Can reading in low light conditions worsen your child's myopia?
Reading in low light conditions doesn't cause myopia to worsen. Optimizing indoor lighting with incandescent bulbs, taking breaks, and maximizing natural light can help manage myopia.
As a parent of a child with myopia, you may have heard conflicting information about whether reading in dim light can harm your child's eyesight. Your intuition tells you that it could be harmful, especially since, like many of us, you may have experienced tired and sore eyes from reading in low-light conditions. But does it really cause or worsen myopia?
In this article, we will delve into the research on if reading in low-light conditions may lead to myopia or its progression. We will also discuss the optimal brightness levels and the types of light bulbs recommended. Additionally, we will provide some effective strategies for optimizing indoor lighting. So, let's dive in!
What are the impacts of low lighting conditions?
Reading indoors in low light conditions can cause eye strain, but there is no evidence to suggest that it causes an increased likelihood of myopia or its progression. However, prolonged indoors may increase the likelihood of children engaging in near-vision activities, such as reading or using digital screens.
Studies have shown that excessive near-vision activities are associated with a higher risk of myopia development. In fact, a meta-analysis study found that for every additional hour of near work per week, the odds of myopia increase by 2%.
Additionally, the modern urbanized lifestyle frequently curtails the amount of time children spend outdoors, even though spending time outdoors is known to have a protective effect against myopia and its progression. It raises the question of whether a well-lit indoor environment can also provide protection from myopia.
A study conducted in 2015 revealed promising results, showing that elevating light levels in school classrooms from around 100 to 500 lux significantly reduced myopia onset and decreased the refraction error and axial growth.
This suggests a more positive picture; being in a well-lit indoor space can have a positive impact on your child's vision.
What type of light bulb is better for the eye?
Now, let's also discuss the different types of lighting and their effects on eyesight. In recent years, LED lights have become popular due to their energy efficiency and environmental consciousness.
However, a cross-sectional study involving 2,346 students found that using LED lamps for homework was associated with more myopic refractive error and longer axial length in young teenagers compared to incandescent and fluorescent lamps.
Additionally, fluorescent lamps were found to increase the risk of eye diseases, possibly due to the UV radiation that it emits. Furthermore, a large study involving 3,377 students also found that fluorescent lamps were associated with a more frequent occurrence of astigmatism.
The European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE), in their 2021 guidance on the management of myopia publication, recommended: "maximize indoor lighting and using incandescent light bulbs instead of fluorescent or LED lighting."
Five Practices for indoor lighting to help myopia management
Even though reading indoors in low light conditions didn’t have evidence that it may lead to harm, given the potential benefit of optimizing indoor lighting on myopia, here are some useful practices based on what we have learned:
1. Increase ambient lighting levels: One of the most important things you can do is to increase the ambient lighting levels in your child's study or play area to at least 500 lux. In my experience, a 100-watt incandescent light bulb in a table lamp could provide 800-1000 lux in the reading area.
2. Use incandescent light bulbs: As SOE recommended, use incandescent light bulbs instead of fluorescent or LED lighting. Fluorescent lighting may increase the risk of eye disease, and it is also associated with astigmatism. LED lamps were associated with more myopic refractive error and longer axial length in young teenagers.
4. Maximize natural light exposure: Natural light is the best light for our eyes. If possible, position your child's desk by a window to maximize natural light exposure. This may also provide a more convenient way to look at objects far away during eye breaks.
5. Encourage doing things outdoors: Encourage your child to conduct their activities outdoors and maximize natural daylight exposure. For example, during the summer, encourage them to do their homework, read, play, or eat their meals outside.
Key takeaways
In summary, while there is no conclusive evidence that low indoor lighting causes myopia, prolonged near-vision activities indoors have been linked to an increased risk of myopia development. However, optimizing indoor lighting with incandescent bulbs can positively impact vision. Additionally, taking regular breaks from near-vision activities, maximizing natural light exposure by positioning desks near windows, and encouraging outdoor activities help prevent myopia progression.
I hope that sheds some light on the matter. Let's brighten up our children's future!
