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While myopia does not have a clear pattern of inheritance, the risk of developing nearsightedness is higher for children of myopic parents.
More and more research indicates that 90 minutes of time spent outdoors makes children less likely to develop myopia and may help slow its progression, regardless of whether their parents are myopic, or the amount of time spent on near work.
The time a child spends on close-up activities (near work), such as reading, writing, and viewing handheld digital devices, has been shown to be a risk factor for myopia. We recommend limiting sustained near activities to no more than 1 hour at a time, with regular breaks, as this helps reduce eye strain and may lower myopia risk.
Children who start having myopia at a young age are at higher risk for developing higher myopia* by their teen years. *High myopia is defined having a refractive error of -5.00D (diopters) or more.
While there is not a definitive hereditary association, research shows that myopia prevalence varies based on a child’s race. For example, children of Asian or Hispanic descent are more likely to develop myopia.