Summer babies may have worse sight

LONDON: Children born in summer may have an increased risk of being shortsighted, a new study suggests.

To a lesser extent, playing computer games might also be a risk factor, researchers found.

The study, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, examined the risk of myopia among children taking part in the Twins Early Development Study.

Almost 2000 twins with an average age of 17 took part in the study.

Overall 26% of the participants were myopic, and the average age at which children started to wear glasses was 11.

Factors significantly associated with developing shortsightedness included being born in summer — where children had a 93% increased risk. Those who spent longer playing computer games were 3% more likely to develop such eye problems.

But fertility treatment appeared to have a protective effect, with twins born as a result of IVF less likely to become shortsighted.