Myopia Epidemic?? Go Play Outside!

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is beginning to occur at a rate that can no longer be linked to genetics.  In Seoul 96.5% of 19 year old men are myopic.  In China, sixty years ago only 10 to 20% of people were myopic.  Today, that number is 90%.  This is not just an issue seen in the Asian world.  In the US and Europe, half the young adults are myopic, which is double from 50 years ago.

So why are we seeing this increase?  Is it an epidemic?  And what do we do about it?

The science is unclear as to the cause, but we are seeing some very strong correlations.  In the Inuit population in Alaska, where the community used to be more isolated, 2 out of 131 people were myopic.  However, over half of their grandchildren are myopic in their new connected world.  This and other similar research has lead scientists to think that there is something going on environmentally that is changing the development of our eyes.

In the technology age, where people are glued to a computer screen and their cell phones, it is thought that the increase in near activities is leading to this change.  Science shows correlation, not necessarily causation, so it is difficult to say that these devices CAUSE myopia. (Too many variables that cannot be controlled for)  There are several studies that researched outdoor activities and found that the more time a child spends outside playing, the less likely they are to be myopic........so the big take away:  Send your child outside and to enjoy the beautiful mountains this great state of Colorado has to offer and they will be less likely to need glasses.

If your child is already myopic, is there anything you can do?  

There is a lot of research behind a concept called Myopia Control, that utilizes glasses or specialty contact lenses to slow the progression of Myopia. This is being done across the globe, and is starting to be done here in the United States.  If you have an interest in Myopia Control for your child, come into our office for a consult!

https://www.aoa.org/news/clinical-eye-care/myopia-controlling-the-heretofore-uncontrollable

https://www.aoa.org/news/clinical-eye-care/outdoor-activity-may-reduce-risk-for-myopia-in-children

https://www.nature.com/news/the-myopia-boom-1.17120

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5516464/

https://optometry.berkeley.edu/myopia-coming-epidemic/