SYDNEY: Spending a couple of hours outdoors each day could help children avoid becoming short-sighted, Australian researchers said on Tuesday.

Exposure to bright light for two to three hours daily helps regulate the eye's growth, dramatically reducing the risk of myopia
, an Australian Research Council study found.

Short-sightedness, traditionally a problem among the highly educated, has reached record levels in east Asia, lead researcher Professor Ian Morgan told the reporter.

Growing numbers of children in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and China are struggling with their vision, with up to 90 percent of Singaporeans wearing glasses by the time they leave school, he said.