But can this be linked to children's obsession with using electronic gadgets? Annegret Dahlmann-Noor, consultant ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London says lack of natural light seems to be the key issue. She's suggested that children in East Asia study a lot, using computers, smartphones or tablets, and they are go outside less, which could be a cause of short-sightedness. Wearing glasses is one solution, but it's not ideal.

This leads to a dilemma: achieving short-term academic success or protecting your long-term eyesight. It's always going to be a challenge to drag children away from their screens and it's likely that more and more studying will be done online, through a screen. But despite that, Professor Hammond says, "in countries like urban China, where 10% of children in each class per year are becoming short-sighted from about the age of six, there's an argument for saying we should be trying to prevent it." It's evidence we can't turn a blind eye to. So, maybe it's time to hit the 'off' button and get our children outside?

词汇表 square eyes “眼睛变方了”，看电视上瘾

glued to (something) 全神贯注地盯着…看

deteriorate 变差

opened one’s eyes 使某人认清、了解（某事）

ophthalmology 眼科学

ophthalmic 眼科的

myopia 近视

short-sightedness 近视

epidemic 大范围扩散

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