Researchers in Spain are exploring whether a simple eye biomarker could help identify children at higher risk of developing myopia before the condition progresses. The study, published in Frontiers in Medicine, examined the relationship between outdoor sunlight exposure, childhood myopia, and a noninvasive biomarker known as conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence, or CUVAF.
Researchers found that children spending at least seven hours outdoors each week had significantly lower rates of myopia compared to those with less outdoor exposure. They also found that higher CUVAF levels were strongly associated with lower myopia prevalence. The findings are drawing attention because CUVAF may offer a more objective way to assess outdoor light exposure than relying on questionnaires or self-reported lifestyle habits.
“CUVAF is an objective, noninvasive biomarker that lets us measure, in an objective way, how much sunlight the eye has received over time.”
— Sergio Recalde, PhD, Clínica Universidad de Navarra
A growing link between outdoor time and myopia
Myopia continues rising globally, particularly among children and adolescents. Researchers increasingly believe modern lifestyle habits, including prolonged near-work activity and reduced outdoor exposure, may contribute significantly to this trend.
The study evaluated more than 2,200 children between the ages of 7 and 12 from schools in Madrid. Researchers compared refractive status, outdoor activity levels, lifestyle questionnaires, and CUVAF measurements to better understand how environmental exposure may influence myopia risk.
One of the clearest findings involved outdoor activity itself. Children spending at least seven hours outdoors weekly showed roughly half the myopia prevalence of children with lower outdoor exposure. Researchers also found that every additional hour spent outdoors slightly reduced myopia risk. According to the authors, these findings support growing evidence that natural light exposure may help regulate eye growth during childhood.
CUVAF offers a more objective way to measure light exposure
CUVAF measures small ultraviolet-related autofluorescent areas that develop on the conjunctiva over time due to sunlight exposure. Researchers believe these patterns may function as a biological footprint reflecting cumulative outdoor light exposure. The larger the measured CUVAF area, the greater the child’s estimated exposure to natural sunlight.
Researchers found that children with higher CUVAF measurements were significantly less likely to be myopic. The study’s age-adjusted diagnostic model showed that high CUVAF levels were associated with a 91.9% probability of not being myopic.
One of the major challenges in pediatric lifestyle research is accurately measuring how much time children actually spend outdoors. Researchers believe CUVAF may help provide a more objective alternative. This may become increasingly important as pediatric eye health research continues moving toward prevention-focused screening and earlier intervention strategies.
A potential new tool for pediatric screening programs
The researchers believe CUVAF has strong potential for future pediatric screening programs because the test is quick, noninvasive, and relatively easy to perform in children. According to the study authors, the biomarker may eventually help identify children with lower sunlight exposure and therefore higher myopia risk before significant progression occurs.
“We have found that it is inversely associated with myopia — that is, the larger this footprint, the lower the risk of developing the condition.”
— Miriam de la Puente, Clínica Universidad de Navarra
The findings may also support broader public health conversations around pediatric eye health, screen time, outdoor activity, and preventative vision care. Researchers noted that while genetics still influence myopia risk, lifestyle habits may significantly shape how that risk develops over time.
Prevention is becoming central to myopia management
As myopia rates continue increasing worldwide, prevention strategies are becoming an increasingly important focus within pediatric ophthalmology. Researchers believe encouraging outdoor activity, reducing excessive near-work strain, balancing screen use, and promoting regular eye examinations may all help reduce long-term myopia progression risk in children.
The study also highlights a broader shift happening in eye care toward earlier identification and preventative intervention rather than waiting for vision changes to become clinically significant.
Although further longitudinal research is still needed, the authors believe tools such as CUVAF may eventually help support more proactive and objective approaches to childhood myopia screening.
Source: Medscape
