The Situation of Myopia in Taiwan3

Recently, there are some Australian researchers examined rising rates of myopia in Asia. According to the report, the situation in Asia becomes more and more serious. For example, 80% of 18-year-old men recruited to the army in Singapore have this problem. This statistics was only 25% in 30 years ago. “Watching too much television and spending too long in front of a computer is behind rising rates of short-sightedness.” said the researchers. In fact, it becomes an important issue in Taiwan. It is said that nearsightedness is caused by television and computers because they bring a magnificent impact to our video experience. Therefore, how to prevent and cure myopia is one of the most important topics now.

When a person can not see long distant objects clearly while they do not wear glasses, it is said that the people have the nearsightedness. More often than not, myopia is caused by focusing on near objects such as books or computers for a long time. As a result, the eyes get stuck in the close-up focus position and can no longer focus on distant objects.

Thanks to those epoch-making inventions, we can have a convenient life in modern society. TVs provide us an colorful daily life. Moreover, by surfing the Internet, people can easily get new information, latest news or enjoy different kinds of exciting recreation. Needless to say, TVs and computers bring much positive influence to our world.

However, there are so many people in Taiwan do not know how to use them correctly; and that will hurt their eyesight very much. According to Ian Morgan of the Australian National University in Canberra who is quoted in the July 10, 2004 issue of New Scientist. This is one of the main reasons why there are so many people in the world have myopia problem. This is an alert for us to facing this unhealthy living habits seriously.

Another report made in Spain's Complutense University also has similar conclusion. The finding points out that 31.3% of first-years were nearsighted. After four to six years, the rate becomes 49% in their final year. The researcher, Dr. Rafaela Garrido, who presented her findings to the 10th International Myopia Conference in Cambridge in July 2004, says: "Some students are spending too long in intensive near work with their eyes. It is also a problem with people who spend too long on a computer or using a microscope. It's difficult to ask students to do less reading, as it is essential to passing courses, but we have to find ways to deal with the stress on the eyes."

It goes without saying that acousto-optic attracts out attention in many ways. On the other hand, our eyesight could easily get hurt if we expose our eyes in such an exciting situation. While we watch TVs or use computers, we easily forget to relax our eyes even when they are tired. People who do not know how to protect their eyes usually damage their eyesight without noticing it.

For example, some people do not know when to stop using their eyes. Keeping watching the screen for a long time is the fastest way to get myopia. In addition, some people watch TV or computer without enough light. Unfortunately, it brings much pressure to the eyes. Furthermore, some people sit too close to the screen in order to see more clearly. As a result, these people have biggest possibility to get myopia. Therefore, learning how to use those technology devices is an important issue for people in Taiwan.

In 2005, The International Myopia Prevention Association filed a Petition with the Food and Drug Administration. It warns people that distance glasses worsen myopia in children. In addition, shorten eyes using time such as computer usage may reduce or prevent myopia. In fact, myopia is hard to prevent, only when we know stop watching closing object every half hour can we avoid myopia.

We should take care of the time when we feel uneasy while seeing distant objects such as the TV, computer or the words on the board at school. Finding out that we have eyes problems at the first time is indispensable in the therapy. Wasting time can undoubtedly make thing become worse.

Ian Morgan said, “As kids spend more time indoors, on computers or watching television, we are going to become just as myopic.” It seems that in the future, there will be more people have myopia in the world. Nevertheless, computers and TVs are equipments which are invented to help us. Hence, if all of us can use them safely, we can enjoy the advantage they bring to us and avoid the disadvantage. Even thought the situation of myopia is a challenging problem, we can overcome this situation if we learn follow the using step.







Dr. Klaus Schmid (2002). Myopia Manual. An impartial documentation of all the reasons, therapies and recommendations. Retrieved June 1, 2008 from http://www.myopia-manual.de/

Donald S. Rehm (2001). International Myopia Prevention Association. HOW CAN WE END THIS TRAGEDY? Retrieved June 1, 2008 from http://www.myopia.org/ebook/23chapter18.htm

Cape Times (2004, July 08) Cape Times. TV, computer games, too much reading cause increasing short-sightedness in children. Retrieved June 1, 2008 from http://www.capetimes.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=272&fArticleId=2142099

Ian Morgan (Thursday, 8 July, 2004). BBC news. TV 'linked to short-sightedness'
Retrieved June 1, 2008 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3876057.stm

Kate Hilpern (2004). Rense.com. TV, Computers Cause Irreparable Harm To Eyesight. Retrieved June 1, 2008 from http://www.rense.com/general57/tvcpom.htm