Q. What is childhood myopia and why is Korea’s rate so high?

Myopia, or nearsightedness, occurs when the eyeball grows slightly too long, causing distant objects to appear blurry while close-up vision stays clear. In Korea, the combination of long study hours, after-school academies (hagwon), heavy smartphone and tablet use, and comparatively little time outdoors has created conditions that accelerate myopia onset and progression in children far beyond global averages. Seoul, along with other dense East Asian cities, consistently ranks among the regions with the highest reported childhood myopia prevalence.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

{“@context”:”https://schema.org”,”@type”:”FAQPage”,”mainEntity”:[{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Q. At what age should my child have their first eye exam in Korea?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Most pediatric ophthalmologists, including clinics in Guro and Yeongdeungpo, recommend a first formal eye exam around age 3, with annual checks starting at school entry (age 6-7). Because myopia often begins during early elementary school in Korea, catching it early in Guro or Gasan-based clinics gives the best chance to slow progression before it becomes high myopia.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Q. Can childhood myopia be cured or reversed?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”No. Myopia is a structural change in eye length and cannot be reversed with glasses, drops, or lenses. What we can do is slow the rate of progression using tools like low-dose atropine, orthokeratology (OK lens), or specialty myopia-control spectacle lenses, so the child ends up with lower final myopia as an adult.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Q. Are OK lenses (orthokeratology) safe for children in Korea?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Orthokeratology lenses are widely used in Korea and can be safe and effective for slowing myopia progression when properly fitted and monitored. They require careful hygiene, regular follow-up visits, and are not right for every child. At our Guro-gu clinic, we assess corneal shape, age, and lifestyle before recommending OK lenses to any family from Yeongdeungpo, Gasan, or Gwanak.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Q. Does screen time cause myopia in Korean children?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Screen time itself is less of a direct cause than sustained near-work at close distance – reading, studying, and phone use for hours without breaks. Combined with Korea’s long study hours and limited outdoor time, this near-work pattern is considered a major contributor to the country’s high childhood myopia rates.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Q. How much outdoor time does my child need to lower myopia risk?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Research on East Asian children, including cohorts in Korea, suggests roughly 2 hours of outdoor time per day is associated with meaningfully lower rates of new myopia onset. Natural light exposure appears to be protective, independent of physical activity level, which is why we encourage outdoor breaks even for high-achieving students in Yeongdeungpo and Guro.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Q. What is high myopia and why does it matter long-term?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”High myopia generally means a prescription beyond about -6.00 diopters. It raises lifetime risk of retinal detachment, myopic macular degeneration, glaucoma, and early cataracts. Given how common high myopia has become among Korean young adults, slowing progression in childhood is one of the most effective ways to protect long-term eye health.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Q. Where can English-speaking families in Seoul get pediatric eye exams?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Nunehim Eye Center in Guro-gu offers eye exams and myopia management consultations in both Korean and English, serving families across Yeongdeungpo, Guro, Gasan, and Gwanak. Dr. Daniel Baik, a board-certified ophthalmologist, is available for consultations that walk expat parents through diagnosis and treatment options in plain language.”}}],”about”:{“@type”:”MedicalClinic”,”@id”:”https://nunehim.com/#clinic”},”publisher”:{“@type”:”MedicalClinic”,”name”:”Nunehim Eye Center”,”url”:”https://nunehim.com”}}