Discover 6 ways to treat nearsightedness naturally, including outdoor time to better lifestyle habits and supplements. Complement to standard care treatments for better results.
Is your child struggling to see what's written on the whiteboard in school? Have you ever found yourself wondering whether or not you can treat nearsighted naturally? Rest assured, you are not alone in having this question.
With a staggering 2.6 billion individuals worldwide grappling with nearsightedness in 2020, and projections suggesting that this number could escalate to 5 billion people by 2050—encompassing approximately 50% of the global population—grasping the understanding of this condition is more crucial than ever.1
In this article, we will delve into the fundamentals of the condition, examine its underlying causes, and explore ways to treat nearsightedness naturally.Â
What causes nearsightedness?
The underlying cause of nearsightedness, which is also referred to medically as myopia, lies in the way light enters the eye and converges onto the photosensitive area known as the retina. Imagine the retina as akin to the light sensor found in a digital camera; it's responsible for capturing and relaying signals, allowing us to perceive the world around us.2,3
Typically, light rays pass through the front portion of the eye—the cornea and lens—and are focused on the retina. However, often in cases of nearsightedness, a child's eye becomes abnormally elongated, causing the light to focus in front of the retina rather than on it. As a consequence of this, vision becomes blurred.2,3
Hence, for children affected by nearsightedness, the treatment objectives revolve around ensuring clear vision and stopping the progression of abnormal elongation of the eye.2,3
How to treat nearsightedness naturally?
Research has indicated that the current standard of care nearsightedness treatments, including atropine eye drops, specialized soft or overnight contact lenses, and myopia control glasses, are the most efficacious methods.4 They have the potential to substantially curtail or even halt the advancement of nearsightedness by approximately 45-65%.
While they might not yield the same level of effectiveness,* the following six approaches to treating nearsightedness naturally could complement your child’s treatment and aid in managing the condition.
1. More outdoor time
Encouraging your child to engage in 80 - 120 min of outdoor activities for more natural sunlight has been linked to slowing the progression of nearsightedness.5 Research has shown that sunlight’s brightness and some of its wavelengths are beneficial in regulating eye growth.6
Upon reviewing results from various studies, more outdoor time is effective, albeit to a lesser degree than the current standard of care treatments —roughly a 1.9 to 2.7-fold difference (based on axial length).
Just remember, while soaking in the sun's benefits, ensuring proper sun protection is equally important.
2. Eye breaks from near work
If your child spends a substantial amount of time on tasks involving close-up work, such as reading, studying or even playing Lego, regular breaks are important. Prolonged near work is a risk factor for the worsening of nearsightedness.2
While the conventional 20/20/20 rule suggests taking a 20-second break every 20 minutes looking at an object 20 feet away can help, recent research has questioned its benefit for children already affected by nearsightedness. A new recommendation proposes taking a 5-minute break every 30 to 60 minutes to allow the eyes to rest and minimize the risk associated with prolonged near work.7
3. Better indoor lightingÂ
Adequate indoor lighting offers protective benefits. Maintaining light levels in the study area of at least 500 lux can contribute to slowing the progression of nearsightedness. A study conducted in 2015 showed that improving school desktop light levels from 100 lux to 500 lux in school resulted in a 25% reduction in the progression of nearsightedness.8
Use incandescent bulbs over fluorescent or LED lighting. Fluorescent lighting was associated with an increased risk of eye disease, and LED lighting was associated with nearsightedness progression in young teenagers.9
In my experience, a table lamp equipped with a 100-watt incandescent light bulb could provide 800-1,000 lux in the designated reading area.
4. Improve sleep
Recent studies showed insufficient sleep duration (< 7 hours), poor sleep quality, and staying up late (after 9:30 pm) are correlated with an increased risk of nearsightedness progression in children.10 Establishing healthy sleep habits is important not only for eye health but also for the overall healthy growth of a child.
5. Dietary supplements
Crocetin is the only dietary supplement that has demonstrated the potential to slow the progression of nearsightedness so far. However, based on the results of a small-scale clinical trial, while crocetin has demonstrated effectiveness, its efficacy is relatively weaker than the current standard of care treatments—an estimated 2 to 3-fold difference.11 More large studies are needed to confirm the benefit observed. Â
(Note: Always remember to discuss with a healthcare professional or your eye doctor before taking any supplements.)
6. Full-time, full-vision correction
Under-correcting or uncorrected vision could lead to a worsening of nearsightedness. Leading experts in myopia management recommend full-time, full-correction wearing of glasses or contact lenses. For children who utilize these glasses or contact lenses, adhering to this approach presents a simple and effective method to minimize avoidable progression.2
Conclusion:Â
In sum, the six approaches to treating nearsightedness naturally provide a certain level of protection against progression. While these methods do show benefits, it's important to acknowledge that they are not as effective as the standard of care treatments.* And the most effective means of stopping or slowing progression remain the utilization of atropine eye drops, specialized contact lenses, and myopia control glasses.
This also means that relying exclusively on these approaches might not yield satisfactory outcomes, especially for children with a rapid progression. However, incorporating them in conjunction with standard of care treatments has the potential to contribute to a clearer vision of the bigger picture for your child.
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Note: The progression percentage of myopia has been computed based on the one-year axial length changes reported in the studies detailed in Lanca et al. (2023). The atropine calculation only includes 0.05% concentration.
*Based on axial length
5. International Myopia Institute. 2021. IMI Prevention of Myopia and its Progression. Retrieved, Aug 9, 2023. https://myopiainstitute.org/imi-whitepaper/imi-prevention-of-myopia-and-its-progression/
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