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Review
. 2024 Sep 30;16(19):3331.
doi: 10.3390/nu16193331.

Interdependence of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Myopia

Małgorzata Mrugacz  1 , Katarzyna Zorena  2 , Magdalena Pony-Uram  3 , Maja Lendzioszek  4 , Kamila Pieńczykowska  5 , Anna Bryl  1
Affiliations
Review

Interdependence of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Myopia

Małgorzata Mrugacz et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Background: Myopia (also known as nearsightedness), a prevalent refractive error, occurs when parallel rays of light converge in front of the retina, resulting in blurry distance vision. Recently, there has been a marked rise in myopia among the global population. The absence of effective methods of controlling the progression of this visual defect prompts the search for new preventive and therapeutic options. The impact of diet and lifestyle on the progression of myopia is still not fully understood. Therefore, our aim was to examine how these factors might affect the advancement of myopia, based on the existing literature. Methods: This manuscript was prepared through an extensive literature review conducted from June 2022 to September 2024. We searched for pertinent research articles using reputable databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. We included all types of publications, with a special focus on the newest ones. Results: Despite far-reaching examination, the relationship between these factors and myopia control remains inconclusive with varying degrees of evidence supporting their roles. Conclusions: However, promoting a healthy lifestyle, particularly increasing physical activity and outdoor time, is essential. Additionally, emerging research suggests that maintaining a balanced diet is important due to the potential impact of certain nutrients on myopia development. Ophthalmologists should also guide parents on the alternative correction methods beyond single vision glasses, especially for rapidly progressing cases. With the rising prevalence of myopia in children, further research is necessary.

Keywords: diet; lifestyle; myopia; myopia complications; myopia prevention.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA flowchart of study selection process.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Possible factors that inhibit the risk of myopic development and progression (Normal eye—green frames) and possible factors that contribute to the development of myopia (Myopia eye—red frames). The figure was prepared based on the literature [31,89,91,100,101,102,103,104] and drawn by using pictures from Servier Medical Art. Servier Medical Art by Servier is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/, accessed on 20 May 2023).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Diagram showing how nutrients affect eye development and myopia progression. Nutrients on the red arrow increase the risk of myopia and nutrients on the green arrow reduce the risk or progression.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.