Too much indoor play bad for eyes

[moderate libertarian]

Makes sense:


24 October 2011

Lack of outdoor play linked to short-sighted children

The time children spend outdoors could be linked to a reduced risk of being short-sighted, research suggests.

An analysis of eight previous studies by University of Cambridge researchers found that for each additional hour spent outside per week, the risk of myopia reduced by 2%.

Exposure to natural light and time spent looking at distant objects could be key factors, they said.

The studies involved more than 10,000 children and adolescents.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15427954


Cool eye exercises for computer screen addicts:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RGPgVNf9Q4&feature=player_detailpage




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRwXuRIR3Co&feature=player_detailpage

 

[BuddyRey]

Makes a lot of sense. The human eye evolved to perform the function of helping people in a hunter-gatherer economy spot the smallest and sneakiest prey at the greatest distances. It's only been in the last several thousand years that we've placed onto it the additional demands of gazing, close up and personal, at art and the written word. Language, technological intelligence, and communication has advanced by leaps and bounds, and evolution is struggling to catch up.

 

[DamianTV]

You mean sitting this close to my monitor, trying to read this link on a smart phone or iPad, or staring at porn online will actually make me go blind? Oh shit!

 

[kah13176]

Meh. A large portion of my childhood I spent outside - (outdoor) competitive swimming and I lived near a woods and pond that was basically all to myself. Though now I play quite a few video games and work on the computer all the time, I was pretty nearsighted long before having access to the internet.

 

[mcvac]

The entire body needs sunlight to process calcium. A person should get at least 20 minutes of exposure (without sunscreen) each day. The sun holds so many great benefits for the mind and body that it causes one to wonder why so much technology has been created to keep children indoors...computers, video games, cable television with 100's of channels and tons of media...then comes depression disorders from lack of ol sol...

Get your sunlight and be happy! It's true!

 

[BuddyRey]

The entire body needs sunlight to process calcium. A person should get at least 20 minutes of exposure (without sunscreen) each day. The sun holds so many great benefits for the mind and body that it causes one to wonder why so much technology has been created to keep children indoors...computers, video games, cable television with 100's of channels and tons of media...then comes depression disorders from lack of ol sol...

Get your sunlight and be happy! It's true!

VERY true! I can tell an enormous difference in my day-to-day mood and outlook on life when I'm getting plenty of sunshine and fresh air compared to when I'm on the crazy sleep schedule I'm on right now (waking up at three or four in the afternoon and wiling away the nights like a walking zombie). It's especially bad this time of year.