At a press event held by Santen Pharmaceutical in Tokyo on the 6th, ahead of 10 October's “Eye Protection Day,” experts and parents discussed the current state of myopia in children and preventive measures.
The event was held under the theme of correctly understanding and preventing myopia in children, with 10 October's “Eye Protection Day” in mind. Speakers included Fujimoto Miki (藤本美貴) and Matsumura Sae (松村沙衣), an associate professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at Toho University School of Medicine. They exchanged views on the prevalence of myopia and measures that can be taken in daily life.
Matsumura Sae (松村沙衣) stressed the importance of early detection through school health examinations and at home in reducing myopia, and also referred to future risks such as glaucoma and retinal detachment. She identified 5 measures that can be implemented at home: taking breaks to rest the eyes, maintaining an appropriate viewing distance, improving indoor lighting, maintaining correct posture and increasing time spent playing outdoors.
Fujimoto Miki (藤本美貴), speaking from the perspective of a parent, expressed a desire to stop the progression of myopia in her eldest son and daughter. Through a quiz-style talk session on myopia prevention, she sought to promote accurate knowledge. Matsumura Sae (松村沙衣) reiterated the importance of early detection and beginning preventive measures, stressing both school health examinations and observation at home.
The event materials cited data from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's FY2025 School Health Statistics Survey, showing that the percentage of students with uncorrected visual acuity below 1.0 is high across elementary, junior high and high schools. Overall, the importance of preventing myopia and seeking appropriate medical care was reportedly shared from both expert and parent perspectives.