Maria Liu, an optometrist, discusses the rising rates of myopia in children and her efforts to slow down its progression. The podcast explores the causes and complications of myopia, the growth processes of eyeballs, and the impact of behavior and lifestyle habits on visual system development. It also discusses the optimal lifestyle for healthy eyesight in babies and a project with Columbia Medical Center to reduce screen time and encourage movement.
Excessive screen time and reduced outdoor activities contribute to the increasing rates of myopia in children worldwide.
Ortho-k contact lenses offered at the Myopia Control Clinic can reshape the eyeballs and slow down the progression of myopia, highlighting the importance of exploring alternative treatments beyond glasses.
Deep dives
The Rise in Myopia Cases
The podcast explores the increasing rates of myopia, or nearsightedness, in children around the world, including China where 80% of teens are nearsighted. Previously thought to be primarily a genetic condition, experts now believe that excessive screen time and reduced outdoor activities are contributing factors.
Dangers of Nearsightedness
The podcast highlights the potential dangers of early onset myopia, such as retinal detachment, retinal tear, and glaucoma, which can lead to irreversible vision loss. Eye elongation caused by myopia poses a higher risk for these complications.
Treatment and Prevention
The podcast discusses the work of Dr. Maria Lu at the Myopia Control Clinic in Berkeley, California. Dr. Lu offers treatments beyond glasses, such as ortho-k contact lenses, that can reshape the eyeballs and slow down the progression of myopia. The podcast also emphasizes the importance of outdoor activities and minimizing screen time as preventive measures against myopia.
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 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.
Click here to find out more about the project: npr.org/bodyelectric
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