The doctor warned about the risks of popular life hacks against myopia

Myopia has become a serious problem, and parents are looking for any ways to slow down its development. Various folk and commercial methods of prevention are actively spreading on the Internet, from hot stones and massage to anti—glare screens and visual simulators. This was reported in the newspaper "Guangming Zhibao".

Tian Lei, a doctor from the Department of Ophthalmology at Beijing Tongren Hospital, explained that methods like hot eye stones can temporarily relax muscles and improve blood circulation, but they do not prevent the elongation of the eyeball, which is the main cause of myopia. Moreover, such procedures can lead to burns, irritation of the skin around the eyes and an increased risk of infections.

He noted that eye massage or the use of eye massagers creates a feeling of comfort and relaxation, but this does not prevent the progression of myopia. True myopia is associated with structural changes in the eye, and simple action on the muscles around the eyes does not affect the length of the eyeball.

Anti-glare screens, glasses and other similar products do not reduce the time or distance to the screen and do not prevent the progression of myopia. Also, simulators with pictures for the eyes do not change the length of the eye and do not stop the development of myopia.

Daily two-hour walks or outdoor games remain the most economical and effective way of prevention. When reading and writing, it is important to maintain a proper position and distance from a book or screen, and use the "20-20-20" rule — look at objects at a distance of about 20 feet (6 m) for at least 20 seconds every 20 minutes. The time of using gadgets should be strictly limited.

Lay stressed that the prevention of myopia requires a comprehensive approach. Only a combination of outdoor activities, a scientific approach to eye use and professional vision correction creates reliable protection for children's eyes.

Sino Goziev, an ophthalmologist at JSC "Medicine" (Academician Roitberg Clinic), Ph.D., told Izvestia on September 14 that vision problems often develop due to excessive eye strain caused by the constant use of gadgets. As a result, the visual muscles stop functioning normally, which leads to eye fatigue and decreased image clarity. Their condition can also be affected by using the wrong glasses or contact lenses.

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