Millions of children are at risk of long-term eye damage because they’re failing to spend enough time outside in natural light, a leading expert has warned.
David Allamby, an ophthalmologist and director of London’s Focus Clinic, claims a lack of sunlight is leaving youngsters at risk of short-sightedness.
Soaking up sun prevents the condition, meaning those who stay indoors playing on their phones risk myopia – which can eventually cause blindness.
His warning comes days after shocking data published by the Office for National Statistics which revealed children spend just 16 minutes outdoors each day.
Mr Allamby advised parents should ensure their screen-addicted children spend at least 90 minutes outside each day to keep their vision healthy.
David Allamby, an ophthalmologist and director of London’s Focus Clinic, claims a lack of sunlight leaves youngsters at risk of short-sightedness
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, he said the latest ONS figures ‘paint a worrying picture’ amid fears soaring numbers of children are at risk of vision loss.
‘Action is needed now’
Mr Allamby said: ‘Action is needed now – children must be encouraged to put down their mobile devices and get outside and play.
‘The figures add to a growing catalogue of evidence which clearly demonstrates a rise in short-sightedness linked to too much time indoors.
‘This generation have double the amount of short-sightedness than their parents or grandparents did, and high degrees of myopia is a potentially blinding condition.’
However, Mr Allamby added that getting children outside for 90 minutes a day ‘dramatically’ lowers their risk.
Addicted to mobile phones
He said: ‘Worryingly, children are now simply spending much more time indoors than in previous generations.
‘An addiction to mobile phones and lit screen technology among the young indicates that the numbers suffering eye sight problems is only going to get worse.
‘Many parts of the world are seeing an explosion in myopia in children, and sadly statistics show this country is following suit.’
The ONS statistics, which were the first of their kind, were based on data collected between April 2014 to December 2015.
Children completed time diaries on two days in each week, one on a weekday and the other on a Saturday or Sunday.
Soaking up sun prevents the condition, meaning those who stay indoors playing on their phones risk myopia – which can eventually cause blindness
The figures showed 14 and 15 year olds were the worst offenders, spending just 10 minutes each day outside, on average.
Statisticians were unable to compare the data to previous years, because it was the first time the ONS had collected such figures.
However, a National Trust study in 2016 suggested parents spent almost double the time outdoors when growing up, compared to their children.
How many people are expected to become short-sighted?
Half of the world’s population is expected to be short-sighted in 30 years, because youngsters are spending less time in natural light.
Figures show cases of myopia among 12 and 13 year olds in the UK have more than doubled since the 1960s and now stand at around 16.4 per cent.
Mr Allamby said myopia can also progress to sight-threatening diseases, such as retinal detachment or glaucoma.