The eyes, intricate organs for perceiving the world, require lifelong health management. Different age groups face unique ocular challenges, and scientific prevention and intervention can significantly reduce the risk of blindness. On the occasion of National Eye Care Day, the Ophthalmology Department of Beijing Jishuitan Hospital summarizes critical eye protection strategies based on clinical practices.
Childhood and Adolescence: Fortifying the Defense Against Myopia
China’s myopia rate among children and adolescents has exceeded 50%, meaning one in two children wears glasses. More alarmingly, high myopia can lead to irreversible damage such as retinal detachment and glaucoma, akin to planting a “time bomb” for vision health. Protecting children’s clear vision demands scientific understanding and timely action.
Hyperopia Reserve Monitoring: The Early Warning System for Vision Development
Ages 0 to 8 mark a golden period for vision development. Regular refractive screenings can accurately track the depletion of hyperopia reserve. If the reserve value falls below age-specific standards such as +1.0D or higher for 6-year-olds early onset of myopia should be vigilantly monitored.
Behavioral Interventions: Building a Daily Protection Network
Outdoor activity plays a crucial role: engage in at least 2 hours of outdoor play in natural light daily as it stimulates dopamine secretion in the retina to effectively slow eye axis elongation even on cloudy days.
Maintaining proper reading posture is essential: follow the “one foot one fist one inch” rule (33 cm distance from eyes to books 10 cm from chest to desk 3 cm from fingertips to pen tips) and avoid reading while lying down or in prone positions.
For screen management children under 3 should avoid electronic screens entirely; school-aged children should limit single sessions to ≤30 minutes and total daily use to ≤1 hour; during online classes gaze into the distance beyond 6 meters for 20 seconds every 30 minutes.
Medical Interventions: Scientific Methods to Slow Myopia Progression
For children with confirmed myopia internationally recognized prevention and control measures include orthokeratology (OK) lenses worn at night to achieve clear daytime vision and effectively slow myopia progression.
Another option is 0.01% low-concentration atropine used in combination with OK lenses to enhance control efficacy under medical guidance.
Adulthood: Addressing Eye Fatigue and Chronic Disease Risks
Among 20–40-year-olds one in three suffers from dry eye syndrome (prevalence: 21–30%) while the risks of presbyopia and glaucoma rise sharply after age 40. Prolonged reliance on electronic screens combined with chronic health conditions pose dual threats to vision health.
Combating Screen-Induced Eye Strain
The “20-20-20” rule is key: every 20 minutes of eye use look at an object 6 meters away for 20 seconds to relieve ciliary muscle spasm.
For artificial tear selection mild dry eye can be managed with preservative-free sodium hyaluronate eye drops while moderate to severe dry eye requires combination therapy such as daily meibomian gland hot compresses (twice a day) or intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy to restore oil secretion function.
Environmental adjustments like positioning screens 15° below eye level and matching ambient light intensity to screen brightness can reduce tear evaporation.
Early Screening for Chronic Disease-Related Blindness
Starting at age 40 three key examinations are recommended: intraocular pressure (IOP) tests (normal range: 10–21 mmHg) to detect glaucoma visual field tests to identify early visual field defects and non-mydriatic fundus photography to screen for diabetic retinopathy and macular abnormalities within 10 minutes.
For individuals with diabetes a fundus examination should be conducted upon diagnosis and annually thereafter; if lesions are present screenings should be scheduled every 3–6 months.
Senior Years: Combating the Three Major Causes of Blindness
Individuals over 60 face an 80% prevalence of cataracts and a 50% blindness rate from age-related macular degeneration. Early intervention can prevent 70% of age-related vision loss.
Cataracts: Timely Surgery for Vision Preservation
Surgery is recommended when visual acuity drops to ≤0.6 or daily activities are hindered by blurred vision. Advanced techniques like phacoemulsification with a 2.2mm incision and multifocal intraocular lens implantation can simultaneously correct myopia presbyopia and astigmatism. Delaying surgery may increase the risk of acute glaucoma attacks.
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