Outdoor time and light
The best-supported lifestyle step for children's eyes costs nothing: time outside in daylight.
What the evidence shows
In a three-year trial in Guangzhou, schools that added a daily 40-minute outdoor class had fewer children develop myopia than schools that did not (He et al., JAMA 2015). Reviews of many studies agree: more time outdoors lowers the chance that myopia starts.
Once myopia has begun, outdoor time helps less, so it supports medical treatment and does not replace it. The likely reason is bright daylight, which is far stronger than indoor light even on a cloudy day.
How much
The commonly advised target is about two hours a day outdoors (around 14 hours a week), in daylight. Every extra hour helps, so start with what is realistic and build up.
Making it happen
- Walk or cycle to school, or get off one stop early.
- Ask the school for outdoor lessons, or for break time outside.
- Plan weekend activities that are outside: sport, parks, beach, picnics.
- Move homework to a bright place near a window, and open the curtains.
- In Dubai's summer heat, go out in the early morning or late afternoon, and use shade, a hat and sunglasses with UV protection.
Good to know
- Shade still counts: it is much brighter than indoors.
- Sunglasses do not cancel the benefit if the child is outdoors in daylight.
- Sun safety matters. Outdoor time should never mean sunburn.