Research by Flinders University experts has found that myopia may be linked to poor sleep in children.
The study, published in Sleep, looked at differences in melatonin timing and output, sleep characteristics and cognitive function in 26 myopic and 14 non-myopic children aged between eight and 15 years.
“Our study found myopic children have both lower nocturnal melatonin output and delayed melatonin circadian timing compared to normal-sighted children,” said Dr Ranjay Chakraborty, Associate Professor of Optometry at Flinders University.
“We also observed delays in short-sighted children’s sleep and wake-up time as well as poor and reduced sleep among this myopic group.”
Good sleep is beneficial for a child’s eye development and exposure to daylight is connected to melatonin, dopamine and other regulators which can help circadian patterns, the study authors said.
Emeritus Professor of Psychology and sleep expert Dr Leon Lack said further evidence that myopic children have disturbances in their sleep and melatonin circadian rhythms paves the way for more treatments and management strategies.
“We would recommend children increase their morning light exposure to outdoor sunlight or enhanced indoor lighting,” he said.
“Further research could investigate ways to stop or at least reduce the development of myopia – or prevent it from developing – would be immense clinical importance.”
While prescription glasses or contact lenses are usually used to manage the symptoms, myopia is said to be the leading cause of vision impairment and a major cause of blindness – a challenge for the World Health Organization’s global initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness.
The researchers recommend that a larger study in future could assess the long-term relationship between systemic melatonin and myopia.
Despite research efforts so far, much needs to be learnt about the underlying mechanisms of the growing global prevalence of myopiagenesis (near or distance vision impairment).
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