Research Progress on the Impact of Outdoor Activities on Myopia in Children and Adolescents

The issue of myopia among children and adolescents has become a global public health concern. Existing research indicates a close correlation between outdoor activities and myopia in children and adolescents, with increased outdoor activity effectively preventing the rise in myopia incidence. This study reviews the impact of outdoor activities on myopia in children and adolescents by searching databases such as CNKI and Web of Science, aiming to explore effective strategies for myopia prevention and control, thereby providing theoretical references for myopia prevention efforts. Currently, scholars have conducted cross-sectional studies, cohort studies, and intervention studies across various countries, confirming that long-term engagement in outdoor activities can improve the average refractive index of children and adolescents, reducing the risk of myopia. However, it has also been found that the protective effect of outdoor activity duration on myopia in children and adolescents has a certain threshold. Additionally, numerous animal and human experiments have investigated the mechanisms by which outdoor activities influence myopia, revealing that outdoor activities can reduce the incidence of myopia by promoting ocular refractive development, stimulating dopamine release, and alleviating eye fatigue. Based on the literature review, this study proposes targeted suggestions for myopia prevention and control from the perspectives of the government, schools, and families.