Myopia (nearsightedness) epidemic

I want to wright about something that is on my mind since I had my first child in 2013. Why so much people wear glasses or need glasses these days? This is not an original idea since other countries have studies about this subject for 20 years now. When I studied physiology in medschool  one of my teachers said it's genetically transmitted and he got on and on about some proteins in the eye. The genetically transmitted myopia occurs in about 1% of people. In Singapore 75% of the kids have it. There are more recessive  genes implicated and the idea doesn't stand.
I do medicine with a blind passion and I want to say  out loud  what is important. I'm a pediatrician and some things that happen in childhood can't be reversed in adulthood or adolescence.
I'm saying it with sadness that a lot of doctors, including eye doctors are still going on with all that nonsense about spending to much time in front of a screen, or reading to much are the causes of myopia epidemic. There is a study that says not to this. (1) The occupational medicine do an eye check on people who works with computers in my country. Why is that? No logical explanation, if you ask no clear answer, you will get a "better safe than sorry".
So  what happened lately?  The answer is simple: children don't spend too much time outdoors. It's important for a child to spend at least two hours outside playing, or doing other things ( drawing, reading, doing homework ). The mechanism is not clear but studies say that  the natural light stimulates dopamine production and the dopamine is implicated in stopping the eyeball to elongate, that is the cause of myopia. Let aside that wearing glasses or lenses can be disturbing for a child, the major concern is the progression of myopia through childhood until adulthood and its consequences like tearing apart of retina and blindness.  There is not clear evidence that exposure to natural light helps with the progression of nearsightedness. New studies are yet to come. Nothing to do with screen exposure, parents with myopia, too much reading and learning. (2) (3) (4) The age is also important, exposure to natural light before 6 years seems more beneficial, but all through childhood is recommended.
Some changes can be made: parents should spent more time outside with their children, more playtime outdoor in kindergarten and after-school, kids should go outside every school break they have, sports should be practiced out, teachers can make some activities in school outside. There is simply too much homework to do, but we should encourage the kids to read a book or maybe to do their homework outside. Just doing that and we can add up to two hours/day. We also should encourage kids to get sun protection by wearing appropriate clothes, hats, sunblock and to stay in the shades.
I want to take action about that, but I need people who want to make a change too, to inform people, to take action in school. If some influential  people  from Educational and Health Department are reading this article and want to do something about this, let's do it. For now all I can do is to inform the parents I meet and fight against too much homework.

dr.Mirabela Cascaval