Doctor urges children to play outside 2 hours to curb myopia
She also recommends limiting gadget use to two hours a day and using the 20-20-20 rule when focusing up close.
Pediatric ophthalmologist Indah Saraswati reminded parents that at least two hours of outdoor activity a day can help slow the progression of myopia in children. At the Healthy Vision Day event held by EssilorLuxottica Indonesia in Jakarta on Tuesday, she said children do not have to play under direct sunlight; sitting on a porch in the morning or afternoon and looking at objects about six meters away can also help. Indah also advised children to keep reading distances at least 30 centimeters, take breaks using the 20-20-20 rule, and limit gadget use to no more than two hours a day. She said prolonged close-up viewing can speed up worsening nearsightedness and disrupt concentration, sleep quality and learning.