We are only just beginning to understand the long-term health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the direct consequences of the virus, researchers are beginning to study the effects of social distancing, mandatory quarantines and home confinement. ⁣ In a recent study published in JAMA Ophthalmology,* researchers reported the yearly prevalence of myopia (nearsightedness) in over 100,000 children from 2015-2020. They found a huge increase in the number of kids wh

As a kid, the best part of my day was playing outside during recess. Did you know that recess may help prevent myopia? Myopia (nearsightedness) is a problem which is becoming increasingly common. 50% of the world’s population will be myopic by 2050. When people are very nearsighted, they can develop serious eye problems such as retinal detachment and bleeding in the macula. So how can playing outside prevent myopia? A randomized, controlled trial of 693 Taiwanese first-grader