Living Above the Clouds: How NYC’s Sky-High Lifestyle is Quietly Reshaping Children’s Vision Health
New York City’s skyline continues to climb higher each year, with the majority of skyscrapers concentrated in its two primary business districts, Midtown Manhattan and Lower Manhattan. As more families choose vertical living in the city’s towering residential buildings, an unexpected health consequence is emerging: children growing up in high-rise apartments are developing vision problems at alarming rates, particularly myopia or nearsightedness.
The High-Rise Generation: A New Vision Challenge
The connection between high-rise living and children’s vision problems stems from several environmental factors unique to vertical urban living. There is a growing scientific consensus that at least one contributor to the epidemic is an increase in the amount of time we spend indoors on phones and computers (known as ‘near work’) versus time outdoors, in natural light. Children living in high-rise buildings face additional barriers to outdoor exposure that ground-level residents don’t encounter.
Because it’s not as easy as walking out your front door, people who live on the high floors of a high-rise are less likely to leave their houses. This separation from street level creates a cascade of effects that impact children’s developing vision. This separates people from the outdoors, the city and from other people. And Gehl maintains that “meaningful contact with ground level events is possible only from the first few floors in a multi-story building. Between the third and forth floor, a marked decrease in the ability to have contact with the ground level can be observed.”
The Science Behind Indoor Living and Myopia
The relationship between indoor environments and myopia development is well-established in medical research. This number is rapidly rising, especially among school-aged children. Eye experts expect this trend to continue in the coming decades. Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a common vision problem that often begins between the ages of 6 and 14. It affects an estimated 5% of preschoolers, about 9% of school aged children and 30% of adolescents.
The mechanism is particularly concerning for high-rise dwellers. When your eyes are exposed to sunlight, your body releases a chemical called dopamine. Researchers believe that dopamine affects the retina, a layer of cells at the back of the eye that receives light through the cornea and sends signals to the brain. The dopamine slows down lengthening of the eye (axial growth).
Children in high-rise apartments often miss these crucial exposures to natural light. COVID-19 has not helped: during lockdowns, young people spent even less time outdoors and more time on screens. This had the effect of accelerating myopia progression, especially in younger children.
The Unique Challenges of Vertical Living
High-rise living presents specific obstacles that contribute to the vision problem. Renters with small children or pets might find high-rise apartment buildings a little more challenging to navigate. Waiting for an available elevator when you’re lugging a bunch of extra baby gear or trying to take your pet out to potty can feel very inconvenient.
This inconvenience often translates into reduced outdoor time for children. Research has shown dramatic results when outdoor exposure is increased. One study asked primary schools in Shanghai, China to allocate an additional 40-80 minutes of outdoor time for test groups, while a control group continued their existing habits of just over two hours a day outside. After two years, the incidence of myopia dropped in the test groups by 11-16% compared with the control group.
The Long-Term Vision Consequences
The implications of childhood myopia extend far beyond needing glasses. Children with higher degrees of myopia are more likely to develop sight-threatening complications later in life like cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and retinal detachment. Between 5% and 15% of people with myopia have severe myopia, also called high myopia. This puts them at a higher risk of eye complications later in life that could affect their vision and even cause blindness.
The psychological impact of high-rise living compounds these physical challenges. Across these different categories, a large number of studies found that people living in highrises suffer from greater mental health problems, higher fear of crime, fewer positive social interactions, and more difficulty with raising their children.
Solutions for High-Rise Families
Parents living in NYC’s high-rise buildings can take proactive steps to protect their children’s vision. So much so that myopia experts recommend that children (particularly those aged seven to nine) spend at least two hours a day outside. This might require more intentional planning for high-rise families, but the benefits are clear.
Make sure your child spends time outdoors regularly — every day, if possible. That’s the best way to be sure that they look at things far away. It’s also a great way to get them to be more active, get enough Vitamin D, and learn some important life skills.
Regular eye examinations are crucial for early detection. Regular eye exams are important for children to ensure early detection and treatment of vision issues, including myopia. Eye care professionals recommend that children undergo their first comprehensive eye exam by the age of 3, followed by annual check-ups once they begin kindergarten.
Finding the Right Eyewear Solutions in NYC
When children do develop myopia, having access to proper eyewear becomes essential. Families seeking quality NYC Eyeglasses For Children need specialized providers who understand the unique needs of young patients. The Children’s Eyeglass Store recognizes these challenges, offering more than 500 frames from the top designers that are made specifically for children, toddlers, and babies, a welcoming environment, and a friendly, knowledgeable staff.
We also offer scratch-resistant, smudge-resistant, lenses with built-in UV protection and Crizal Kids UV™ No-Glare Technology. Our lenses are truly kid-proof and can withstand their super active lifestyle so that they can enjoy playing hard, exploring, and doing all the fun things that kids love to do.
A Call for Urban Planning Awareness
As NYC continues its vertical expansion, urban planners and developers must consider the health implications of high-rise living on children. Are high rises a good environment for nurturing children? However, looking at the unprecedented growth of residential tall buildings there might be very little room left in the cities of tomorrow in order to address and provide for good living opportunities for children if the typologies of today deny it.
The solution isn’t to abandon high-rise living, but rather to design these environments with children’s health in mind. The analysis of the cases in this paper demonstrate the potential to actively promote the mental health and well-being of children by providing built environments that support an array of social spaces in high-rise neighbourhoods. This paper has found that location for easy access by both children and parents, a secure neighbourhood with spaces that are safe in design, and climatically comfortable spaces are the prime attributes of a successful social space for children. High-rise neighbourhoods that support such layouts in consideration of children’s needs for play and social activity can help build happy lives for children and their families.
The high-rise generation of NYC children faces unique vision challenges that require awareness, prevention, and proper treatment. By understanding these risks and taking proactive measures, families can help ensure their children maintain healthy vision while enjoying the benefits of urban living. Early intervention, regular outdoor time, and access to quality pediatric eyewear remain the best defenses against the vision problems that can accompany life in the clouds.