Parents: Sunlight’s Surprising Benefit for Kids’ Vision

Did you know that kids who spend more time outside during daylight hours are less likely to be nearsighted? In one comprehensive review, researchers took a deep dive into why this happens. What they found may surprise you.

Throughout childhood, a child’s eyes grow. But if the eye grows too long from front to back, the result is nearsightedness (myopia) and blurry distance vision that could require glasses.

In their review, the researchers uncovered the unique features of sunlight that can help prevent myopia. It starts with the intensity of sunlight. Because sunlight has an intensity hundreds of times higher than that of indoor lighting, it stimulates the release of dopamine in the retina. This, in turn, works to prevent a child’s eyeball from growing too long. Plus, sunlight shrinks the pupils, deepens the depth of field, and reduces blurring, all factors that may help prevent myopia.

Whatever the reason, one thing is clear: Spending time outdoors in full daylight is not only good for your child’s body and brain, it’s good for their vision.

Many of the school-based studies aimed for roughly 40 minutes or more of outdoor time at school, and other research suggests that building up to about 2 hours a day (or 14 hours over the course of a week) is beneficial. For this reason, optometrists often recommend children 6 years of age and older spend at least 2 hours every day outside in the sunshine.

What’s more, even with the usual sun safety habits (sunscreen, shade, hats, sunglasses), plenty of protective light still reaches a child’s eyes to help prevent myopia.

The bottom line: Adding regular daylight time is a simple, powerful habit to help protect your child’s vision.

Here’s to healthy vision!

Lorna & Kathleen (The EatingFor Team)

P.S. Like this tip? For more, check out Eating for A’s: A month-by-month nutrition and lifestyle guide to help raise smarter kids. Kindergarten to 6th grade. (Second Edition)