ORIGINS Vision Study

This study is aiming to investigate how sun exposure and time outside impacts the health of your child’s eye and eye growth, over a period of rapid growth in their lives.

Evidence suggests spending two hours outdoors every day can reduce the reduce the onset of myopia and myopia progression in children.

Myopia, commonly known as short sightedness, is when you need glasses to see clearly in the distance and typically develops during school years.

Childhood myopia is increasing in prevalence world-wide, including in Australia. Children from southeast Asia are at particularly high risk where the prevalence in, for example, Taiwanese school leavers approaches 90%.

While genetics certainly contribute to risk of developing myopia they do not account for the sudden rise in prevalence within a generation. Environmental and behavioral changes play an important role – particularly education and lack of outdoors play.

There is growing concern among paediatric health professionals and parents surrounding the impact of screen-based technologies, particularly very early in childhood, on children’s behavior and neurocognitive development.

There is evidence to suggest excessive screen use may be associated with an increasing prevalence of childhood myopia and dry eyes.

Lack of outdoor play in childhood is a well-known contributor to the development of myopia. What is not known is whether early exposure to outdoor play is protective.

The ORIGINS Vision Study is exploring the below hypotheses:

Early childhood exposure to digital screens and their increased use promotes the development of childhood myopia, particularly in high risk children (e.g. myopic parents)
Development of myopia and high myopia can be predicted by refraction and ocular biometric measures in very early childhood
Promoting outdoor nature play early in childhood is protective against developing myopia
Early intervention with low-dose atropine 0.01% in high risk children delays or prevents the onset of axial myopia
Children with type 1 diabetes mellitus have measurable early changes in retinal vasculature that may predict onset of diabetic retinopathy
Visual acuity reduction in one or both eyes early in life has specific effects
- Upon neural spatial awareness constructs
- Early cognitive development especially regarding symbol (e.g. reading) usage

Investigators

Professor David Mackey AO at the Lions Eye Institute
Dr Samantha Lee at the Lions Eye Institute
Dr Gareth Lingham at the University of Western Australia
April-Jade Jolly at the Lions Eye Institute

Are you an ORIGINS participant? Is your child over 5 years old?

You AND your child are eligible for a free eye test!

The ORIGINS Vision Study would like to see your child twice a year in Autumn & Spring over 4 years, to track their eye growth. They will also take other measurements to ensure you have a comprehensive overview of your child’s eye health and provide early interventional treatment where necessary,

You will receive feedback from our eye care specialists after your visit about your child’s eye health.

About ORIGINS

Local Research. Global Impact.

ORIGINS is the largest study of its kind in Australia, following 10,000 women, their babies, partners, and siblings, from early life into early childhood through a series of biological samples, face-to-face appointments, and online questionnaires.

It's goal? To reduce the rising epidemic of non-communicable diseases through a ‘healthy start to life’.

The unique interventional long-term study is one of the most comprehensive studies of pregnant women and their families in Australia, with participants made up of families who received pregnancy care and/or delivered their baby at Joondalup Health Campus, as well as families from the Joondalup and Wanneroo communities.

The research platform is headed by Co-Directors Professor Desiree Silva and Dr Jackie Davis.