讀後心得

The vision problems of children in Taiwan are becoming increasingly serious, especially the myopia rate among elementary school students, which is rising year by year and is concerning. The main reasons include excessive use of electronic devices and a lack of outdoor activities; spending long hours staring at screens increases eye fatigue and the risk of myopia. Research indicates that at least two hours of outdoor activity each day can effectively reduce the likelihood of myopia, but urbanization has reduced the opportunities for children to connect with nature. To address this issue, the government, schools, and families need to work together. Educational institutions should adjust curricula and schedules to increase outdoor activity time. Parents should limit their children's screen time, encourage participation in sports, and regularly check their vision. Additionally, the daily diet should include nutrients beneficial for vision, such as carotenoids, vitamin A, and lutein. Nutritionists recommend several eye-protecting foods, including dark-colored vegetables, fruits, egg yolks, and nuts, and provide simple eye-care drink recipes to help parents easily protect their children's vision.

The vision problems of children in Taiwan are becoming increasingly serious, and have become a common concern for parents and the education sector. According to statistical data, the myopia rate among schoolchildren in Taiwan ranks among the highest in the world, especially with the prevalence of myopia among elementary school students rising year by year. Many children even show visual abnormalities while attending the lower grades of elementary school, which is alarming.

There are numerous reasons for the deterioration of children's vision, with the main factors being excessive use of digital devices and a lack of outdoor activities. With the popularity of modern technology, many children are exposed to tablets, smartphones, and computers from a young age. Staring at screens for long periods can not only cause eye fatigue but also increase the risk of myopia.

Research indicates that engaging in at least two hours of outdoor activities each day can effectively reduce the occurrence of myopia, as natural light has a positive impact on eye development. However, due to the high level of urbanization in Taiwan, children's activity spaces are limited. Coupled with the protective mindset of parents and the prevalence of cram schools, children lack opportunities to connect with nature, further exacerbating vision problems.

To improve this situation, the government, schools, and families should work together. Educational institutions can adjust courses and schedules to increase students' outdoor activity time and to reduce unnecessary writing and reading burdens. Parents should limit the time their children use digital devices and encourage them to participate in outdoor games and sports. Additionally, regularly taking children for vision check-ups to detect abnormalities early and provide timely corrections is also an important measure for maintaining visual health.

In daily diets, providing children with nutrition that is beneficial for their vision is also a topic of concern for every parent. Nutritionists point out that if the human body lacks specific nutrients such as carotenoids, vitamin A, lutein, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids, it can indirectly affect eye health and lead to vision deterioration.

The eyes are the windows to the soul, comprising complex and precise tissues such as the cornea, iris, retina, and lens, which require balanced nutrition to maintain health. Therefore, here are four types of foods beneficial for protecting vision:

• Dark vegetables or deep red vegetables: The former can filter blue light and reduce retinal damage, while the latter can protect the eyes and night vision.
• Dark fruits: Such as blueberries, blackberries, and grapes, which are rich in anthocyanins that enhance the microcirculation of the eyes and reduce oxidative damage.
• Egg yolks: Contain vitamin A and lutein, which are beneficial for eye health.
• Nuts and seeds: Such as flaxseeds and walnuts, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids that help reduce dry eye symptoms and promote retinal health.

By maintaining a balanced diet and good lifestyle habits, such as consuming at least three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruits daily, including a variety of colorful produce, sufficient eye-protecting nutrients can be provided. Furthermore, children's "picky eating" is a common challenge faced by parents; it is recommended to cleverly incorporate eye-protecting ingredients into children's diets.

Nutritionists also share two simple eye-protecting drinks that people can DIY at home for easy eye care:

• Lutein Pumpkin Almond Milk: Ingredients include pumpkin puree, almond milk, and an appropriate amount of sweetener. Its benefits include filtering blue light and protecting vision.
• Eye-protecting Berry Smoothie: Ingredients include blueberries or blackberries, bananas, unsweetened yogurt, and flaxseed powder, which helps reduce eye fatigue.