Don't delay! Dr. Yang Shuxian from Dongguan Aier Eye Hospital: Early intervention for myopia prevention during winter vacation brings peace of mind.

Winter vacation is approaching, and the "little monsters" are about to be released! Freely using electronic products, less outdoor activities, and loose reading and writing postures... These "standard equipment" of winter vacation are quietly laying landmines for children's eyesight! 

Dear parents in Dongguan, during the holidays, it's even more important not to let your guard down when it comes to protecting your children's eyesight from myopia. Dongguan Aier Eye Hospital is here to help you build a strong "visual defense line" for your children. Here are some key things you must do! 

Beware! Winter vacation becomes a "peak period" for myopia. 

During the winter vacation, children's eye usage patterns have quietly escalated: online classes, non-stop short video watching, and hours-long gaming sessions, with the intensity of continuous close-range eye use far exceeding that during the school term. Coupled with the cold weather leading to a significant reduction in outdoor activities and a lack of sufficient natural light stimulation, along with issues such as improper sitting postures and poor lighting conditions, not only does this easily give rise to new cases of myopia, but it may also cause the degree of existing myopia to "skyrocket", and even trigger potential eye diseases such as strabismus and amblyopia. 

Early detection of myopia 

Regularly monitor your vision. 

Parents should be alert to their children's "vision warning signs": frequent eye rubbing, holding TV or mobile phones closer and closer, frequent blinking, tilting the head to look at things, frowning and squinting... If these situations occur, it may be a sign of myopia, astigmatism or even strabismus and amblyopia! 

Dr. Yang Shuxian from Dongguan Aier Eye Hospital reminds us: "Once a child becomes nearsighted, if there is a lack of scientific intervention, not only will the degree of myopia increase year by year, but it may also develop into high myopia, increasing the risk of future eye diseases. What's more, if strabismus, amblyopia, hyperopia and other problems are mistakenly treated as myopia or the golden treatment period is missed, it may cause irreversible damage. This is why we always emphasize that if any abnormalities are found, children must undergo a professional and comprehensive eye examination instead of blindly getting glasses." 

In response to the particularities of vision screening for teenagers, Dongguan Aier Eye Hospital has specially established a youth myopia prevention and control specialist clinic, led by Director Fu Chengbin, who has been deeply involved in the field of strabismus, amblyopia and myopia prevention and control for many years. The clinic is equipped with advanced international detection devices such as the IOL-Master optical biometer and corneal topography, capable of conducting comprehensive eye examinations from vision screening, refractive testing to axial length monitoring, accurately identifying various issues such as myopia, astigmatism, strabismus and amblyopia. 

More importantly, at Dongguan Aier, each child has their own dedicated refractive development file, which enables doctors to track changes in key data such as vision, eye axis, and refractive power in real time. This allows parents to clearly understand their child's vision development and adjust the prevention and control plan in a timely manner. 

How to prevent and control myopia during the winter vacation? 

In addition to taking children to professional medical institutions for regular check-ups in a timely manner, good living habits during the winter vacation are also the "daily defense line" for preventing myopia! From the duration of using eyes, lighting environment to outdoor activities, every detail affects children's vision health. This practical eye care guide is full of actionable tips. Parents, quickly implement it with your children: 

Avoid using your eyes for long periods of time at close range. 

After 40 minutes of close-range eye use, take a break and relax for 5 to 10 minutes by looking into the distance or closing your eyes. When watching electronic screens, it is advisable to take a break at regular intervals. It is recommended to look up and gaze at something at least 20 feet (6 meters) away for at least 20 seconds after every 20 minutes of screen time, following the "20-20-20" rule. 

Ensure an appropriate lighting environment. 

Reading and writing should be done in an environment with good natural light and sufficient artificial lighting. When studying at home in the evening, in addition to turning on the desk lamp, other lighting in the room should also be switched on. The desk lamp should be placed diagonally opposite the hand you use for writing. 

Maintain the correct posture for reading and writing. 

When reading or writing, follow the "one fist, one foot, one inch" rule: keep a distance of one fist between your chest and the table, one foot between your eyes and the book, and one inch between your fingers and the tip of the pen. Adjust the height of the desk and chair according to your height and maintain a proper sitting posture. Do not read or use electronic products while lying flat or on your side. 

Ensure sufficient time for outdoor activities. 

It is recommended to have at least 2 hours of outdoor activities every day and at least 14 hours per week. 

Adequate sleep 

Adolescence is a crucial period for growth and development. Primary school students should ensure 10 hours of sleep per day, junior high school students 9 hours, and senior high school students 8 hours. 

Winter vacation is the "golden period" for myopia prevention and control, as well as the "critical period" for identifying and addressing any deficiencies. Dongguan Aier Eye Hospital reminds all parents to promptly take their children for professional vision examinations, build a strong barrier for vision health, and let children grow up happily in a clear world!