An Oxford optician is raising awareness during Myopia Awareness Week, running from May 18 to 24, about the rising rates of the condition in children and the long-term risks it poses.

Myopia, or short-sightedness, has doubled among UK children since the 1960s and increases the risk of serious eye conditions such as retinal detachment, which can lead to blindness later in life.

Neil Datta, a director of David Spicer Optometrists in Elms Parade, Botley, said: “It is important to understand the environmental factors that can influence myopia development and progression because the action families take can have a real impact.

“Encouraging your child to spend more time outside can make a vital difference in protecting their sight, now and in the longer term.”

Mr Datta recommends children spend an extra two hours outdoors each day to help delay the onset of myopia, as this allows them to use their full range of vision.

He said: “With the school holidays approaching and evenings getting lighter, now is the perfect time to get into good habits and swap phones for playgrounds and online games for real ones outside.

“The message is simple – be more outdoors.”

He also advises children to take regular breaks during periods of close-up focus, following the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet (or six metres) away for 20 seconds.

Early diagnosis and regular eye examinations are key to managing myopia.

Macroflora was the latest weekly theme – plants and flowers large enough to be seen with the naked eye.

As a result, snappers posted a varied selection of colourful flowers on the club’s Facebook page.

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There were quite a few eye-catching images of dandelion heads but it was the close-up shots of flowers in bloom that really caught the eye.

There were lots of excellent pictures of bees collecting pollen but in the end we have selected Julia Johnson-Fry’s image of a pink peony as our photo of the week.

Ms Johnson-Fry believes her peony is 80 years old, adding: “We thought we had lost it many times, but it keeps coming up!”

Each week, camera club members are given a theme and then post their photos on the club’s Facebook page. A selection of images are featured in the Oxford Mail and The Oxford Times.

The next theme is local markets.