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Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

economist.com

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Re: Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

#31

Post by b112 »

frereubu wrote: post #20
OskarS wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I hadn’t heard about this ”daylight” thing either. I’ve been nearsighted since I was a kid, and back then people said I got it because I read to much, focusing on things too close to my face. I thought that was a pretty fair trade-off, since I liked reading, and didn’t particularly mind wearing glasses. This sunlight thing makes a lot of sense though. I kept hearing proposals during the pandemic about holding c…

My daughter’s primary school teacher recently got a “beach teaching” qualification and she now has one school day a week on the beach, rain or shine. I was really pleased about that anyway as the school doesn’t have a lot of outdoor space for the kids to run around, but this gives me even more reason to be happy.

I scoffed at first, but I guess the qualification is about water safety and things, just in case?

Re: Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

#32

Post by hackererror404 »

scotty79 wrote: post #7

Could we just have rooms lit as strongly as outdoors?

There's an amazing youtuber/creator I've been following for a while and he does exactly this. Goes into the science of what it takes, and the results are really stunning. I'd love to give something like this a try, just need time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bqBsHSwPgw

Also there was a breakthrough a while ago with LED ceiling lights that mimic natural sun. I haven't heard much since their release, so I'm sure cost is still a major issue for these sadly.

https://www.zmescience.com/science/physics/artificial-light-...

Re: Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

#33

Post by inglor_cz »

nilsbunger wrote: post #2

I didn’t realize the evidence is strong that daylight keeps kids from becoming near-sighted. Making young kids study all the time is killing their eyesight!

If we manage to have a kid, long walks everyday are planned :) More movement, less screen time is always good for health, parents' and kids' alike.

Also, getting used to all sorts of weather improves the immune system. By spending too much time indoors we are becoming glasshouse flowers.

Re: Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

#35

Post by Hendrikto »

hackererror404 wrote: post #32
scotty79 wrote: post #7

Could we just have rooms lit as strongly as outdoors?

There's an amazing youtuber/creator I've been following for a while and he does exactly this. Goes into the science of what it takes, and the results are really stunning. I'd love to give something like this a try, just need time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bqBsHSwPgw Also there was a breakthrough a while ago with LED ceiling lights that mimic natural sun. I haven't heard much since their release, so I'm sure c…

The length people go to in order not to leave the house…

Re: Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

#36

Post by astrange »

rightbyte wrote: post #27
nilsbunger wrote: post #2

I didn’t realize the evidence is strong that daylight keeps kids from becoming near-sighted. Making young kids study all the time is killing their eyesight!

If this was the case people living far north should be in a really bad spot for nearsightness. Maybe it is that if pupils are outside they focus far away when looking up, rather than sun light?

I think (weakly) the nearsightedness issue is indeed from not exercising focusing rather than sunlight.

But apparently there is an issue where mothers with low vitamin D in Scandinavia (especially immigrants from sunnier places) are more likely to have autistic children.

Re: Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

#37

Post by astrange »

gspr wrote: post #30
jart wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What? Why do we need to genetically engineer people for wearing glasses?

Because glasses suck, and we don't wanna condemn future generations to wear them if they don't have to (and they still can if they so choose, of course).

They’re good if you don’t like stuff flying into your eyes when you’re outside.

Re: Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

#38

Post by XorNot »

rhinoceraptor wrote: post #34
nilsbunger wrote: post #2

I didn’t realize the evidence is strong that daylight keeps kids from becoming near-sighted. Making young kids study all the time is killing their eyesight!

Quoted post unavailable.

Wisdom teeth used to just be a problem that either killed you, or you lived with lots of pain from, or you paid a guy to try and do something about them.

I don't know why people are so big on "we used to not need X in the distant past" tropes: yes we did, but we also just let lots of people die from it, or live a life of agony or being shunned as ugly/unclean/unable.

Re: Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

#40

Post by marvin »

Hendrikto wrote: post #35
hackererror404 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's an amazing youtuber/creator I've been following for a while and he does exactly this. Goes into the science of what it takes, and the results are really stunning. I'd love to give something like this a try, just need time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bqBsHSwPgw Also there was a breakthrough a while ago with LED ceiling lights that mimic natural sun. I haven't heard much since their release, so I'm sure c…

The length people go to in order not to leave the house…

These techniques would be very useful in the three darkest months in Scandinavia, where the sun is down both when you leave and return from work, and generally behind clouds otherwise.

Me, I’ll climb the floors of the office and stand in a windowed stairwell with the sun in my eyes for ten minutes after lunch every day, when the weather’s good, but that’s being kind of anal about it.

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