Optometrist Maria Liu discusses combating myopia in children by opening a myopia control clinic. The podcast explores the impact of tech habits on eye shape and the rising rates of myopia among kids. It also includes a segment on incorporating 'movement snacks' into daily routines.
Excessive screen time and lack of outdoor activities contribute to myopia in children.
Special lenses and lifestyle changes can slow down myopia progression and prevent vision problems.
Deep dives
Understanding Nearsightedness and Its Impact
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is becoming increasingly prevalent among children globally. The podcast delves into early-onset myopia, citing Harmony's experience of being diagnosed at a young age. The potential dangers of myopia leading to vision problems later in life are highlighted, emphasizing the need for timely intervention in managing nearsightedness for long-term eye health.
Innovative Approaches to Myopia Treatment
Maria Liu's pioneering work in myopia control is discussed, focusing on treatments beyond traditional glasses. The use of special lenses for overnight wear to reshape the eyeballs and slow down myopia progression is explained. Liu's efforts in establishing a myopia control clinic at Berkeley are highlighted, challenging conventional beliefs about myopia treatment.
Promoting Healthy Vision Through Lifestyle Changes
The podcast explores lifestyle factors contributing to myopia, such as excessive screen time and lack of outdoor activities. Recommendations for maintaining healthy vision include engaging in outdoor play, reducing screen time, and taking regular breaks for visual rest. The importance of early intervention and lifestyle modifications in addressing myopia in children is underscored, offering insights into preventing long-term eye complications.
In part three: host Manoush Zomorodi explores how our tech habits are causing our eyes to change shape—to elongate—which causes nearsightedness. She investigates why rates of myopia among kids are soaring. She also speaks with Maria Liu, an optometrist with a quest to slow down the progression of myopia in children by opening the first ever myopia control clinic in the United States.
Later in the episode, we hear from a team of employees who tried incorporating "movement snacks" into their days for one week.
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