Research
Outdoor Activity During Class Recess Reduces Myopia Onset and Progression in School Children
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of outdoor activity during class recess on myopia changes among elementary school students in a suburban area of Taiwan.
Elementary school students 7 to 11 years of age recruited from 2 nearby schools located in a suburban area of southern Taiwan. The children of one school participated in the interventions, whereas those from the other school served as the control group.
The interventions consisted of performing a recess outside the classroom (ROC) program that encouraged children to go outside for outdoor activities during recess. The control school did not have any special programs during recess.
Data were obtained by means of a parent questionnaire and ocular evaluations that included axial length and cycloplegic autorefraction at the beginning and after 1 year.
The study concluded that outdoor activities during class recess in school have a significant effect on myopia onset and myopic shift. Such activities have a prominent effect on the control of myopia shift, especially in nonmyopic children.