Myopia, commonly known as short-sightedness, refers to the difficulty of seeing distant objects clearly, while vision remains unaffected when a person is closer to an object.
Association of Malaysian Optometrists vice-president Dr S Sathiya Prakash said physical education plays a crucial role in reducing myopia as such classes are held outdoors.
“The ministry should look into encouraging healthy vision among pupils by extending the period of outdoor activities in schools.
“This can also be complemented by promoting practical strategies like the ’20-20-20′ rule to protect vision and prevent eye strain,” he told FMT.
The 20-20-20 rule proposes that for every 20 minutes of doing close-up work for long periods, take a 20-second break and look at something 20ft away.
Additionally, Sathiya said, encouraging healthy visual habits, including limiting screen time, reading at an arm’s length, and spending more time outdoors rather than indoors, is key to combating myopia.
He was commenting on concerns raised by health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad on Jan 16 that visual acuity problems remain a major concern among Year 1 pupils, particularly in Putrajaya.
According to Bernama, Dzulkefly said the number of Year 1 pupils in the federal territory experiencing vision problems had increased from 215 in 2022 to 239 in 2023.
Dr Norazah Abdul Rahman, a paediatrics ophthalmologist at Subang Jaya Medical Centre, shared a similar view, saying teachers play a vital role in reducing myopia among school children.
“Besides educating children regarding eye health, the government should allocate funding to train teachers to identify and detect children’s vision issues,” she said.
Norazah urged parents to get their children’s eyes examined regularly by qualified and registered ophthalmologists or optometrists. This will allow for early detection of any visual related problems and enable early treatment.
She also dismissed the notion that myopia in children is related to malnourishment, saying it was more likely “due to lifestyle problems and genetics”.
“Many children are obese and they eat an unhealthy diet. Children should be taught about a balanced meal,” she said, adding that school canteens should also be encouraged to serve healthy food.