A sedentary lifestyle and excessive use of electronics devices have already been linked to an array of illnesses and physical discomforts, but a recent study suggests that such habits could also trigger an early onset of cataract, the National Health Research Institutes said.
A joint study by the institute and the Health Promotion Administration analyzed the results of national health surveys conducted in 2001, 2009 and 2013 of 30,481 respondents aged 40 years and older, which asked them about their health condition, educational attainment and hours spent sitting on an average day.
The prevalence of cataract — a clouding of the lens of the eye that leads to decreased vision — ranged from 10.7 percent in 2001 to 13.13 percent in 2009 and 11.84 percent in 2013.
Meanwhile, the percentage of people who sat for more than seven hours per day climbed from 25 percent in 2001 and 2009 to more than 30 percent in 2013.
After accounting for other risk factors for aged-related eye diseases, such as lower level of education, unemployment, hypertension, diabetes, myopia, smoking history, being female and living in a highly urbanized area, the study found that respondents who sat for seven hours or more per day were significantly more susceptible to developing cataracts than those who sat for less than three hours.
“We observed that the existence of self-reported cataract was associated with prolonged sitting time. This is possibly related to screen time,” the study said.
“Nowadays, people who sit for a long time are most likely exposed to higher-luminance displays, which emanate short wavelength blue-violet or ultraviolet light. This light has a photochemical reaction with lenses and produces reactive oxygen species (ROS), which induces oxidative stress to the protein of lenses, causing oxidative damage, leading to oxidative stress-induced cataracts,” it said.
Citing statistics from the WHO, the study said that cataracts are responsible for 51 percent of the 39 million visually impaired people worldwide, followed by glaucoma (8 percent)and age-related macular degeneration (5 percent).
Although the study was unable to determine which types of sedentary activities were most likely to increase a person’s risk of developing cataracts, it urged attention to be paid to time spent on all activities that are conducted while sitting down.
The research was published in the medical journal BMC Ophthalmology on Nov. 5 last year.
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