China Seeks to Reduce Youth Myopia by Limiting Video Games

But it’s not clear whether the approach will work.

Chinese authorities say they have a solution for the country’s growing myopia problem among youths: Limit access to video games.

The government is restricting the number of online games that are released, Bloomberg reports. It’s also recommending that parents restrict to no more than an hour a day their kids’ “use of electronic products for non-learning purposes.”

Shares of major Chinese video game maker Tencent took a 5 percent dive on the news.

Bloomberg reports that it’s “unclear however how the curbs would be enforced.” 

And despite China’s bold move, the causes of myopia are uncertain.

The Chicago Tribune quotes Dr. Aaron M. Miller, a pediatric ophthalmologist, saying: “There’s not a direct correlation or a clear relationship between video games, screen time and nearsightedness development.” It’s believed that there’s a “loose association” between myopia and “near work” such as staring at a computer screen or reading books, he said.

Read more at Bloomberg