Queen Máxima of the Netherlands visited the Oogfonds (Eye Foundation) at the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam this Wednesday, July 6. During this visit, Queen Máxima became interested in myopia and in particular visual impairment in children.
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Time spent in front of screens increases the risk of myopia in children
Queen Máxima visited the Oogfonds this Wednesday to launch the campaign Get rid of myopia which aims to make children aware of the harmful consequences that screens can have on sight. During this visit, she spoke with eye specialists, with employees of the foundation located in the Erasmus Medical Center in Rottendam and with children with myopia and their parents.
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The Oogfonds finances scientific research on the prevention and treatment of eye problems. In addition, the foundation supports patient associations that support the improvement of the quality of life of visually impaired people. The awareness campaign against myopia in young people was launched following the results of a study which showed that the quality of the eyes of young people is deteriorating. According to the foundation300,000 Dutch people are visually impaired or totally blind, 1.2 million Dutch people have an eye disease or deficiency, 25% of children under 13 are myopic and this is not unrelated to the fact that on average, young children spend 90 minutes a day in front of a screen.
Queen Máxima launches Oogfonds awareness campaign in Rotterdam
“More and more children are becoming myopic due to much closer vision and a lack of daylight. Over the next 30 years, 50,000 people are expected to be affected by myopia.explains the Government Information Service (RVD). To eradicate this eye disease and raise awareness among children, their parents and their teachers, the foundation is launching this campaign in the presence of the Queen.
During this visit, Queen Máxima received a demonstration of an eye test in children with myopia at the ophthalmology clinic. Queen Máxima then launched the campaign in the presence of eye specialists, researchers and concerned children with their parents. Subsequently, she met several people involved in the project.
