Short-Sighted: Half The Planet To Be Myopic By 2050

A study from the Brien Holden Vision Institute found that by 2050, there will be 5 billion myopic people on the planet - 260 million in the U.S. and Canada alone. Among the 5 billion, one in 10 will be at risk for blindness, which will make myopia the leading cause of permanent blindness in the world.

This projection would mean that vision loss from high myopia will increase sevenfold since 2000, according to a news release. Myopia's increase can be attributed to "environmental factors (nurture), principally lifestyle changes resulting from a combination of decreased time outdoors and increased near work activities, among other factors," according to the authors.

Planning for eye care services is highly recommended, as the study points to this being a major public health issue. The researchers also recommend a focus on the development of treatments to prevent myopia from progressing. Children should have their eyes checked regularly, and are advised by the researchers to spend more time outside and less time on electronic devices that put strain on the eyes.

"We also need to ensure our children receive a regular eye examination from an optometrist or ophthalmologist, preferably each year, so that preventative strategies can be employed if they are at risk," coauthor Kovin Naidoo said. "Furthermore there are other options such as specially designed spectacle lenses and contact lenses or drug interventions but increased investment in research is needed to improve the efficacy and access of such interventions."

The findings were a collaboration of the University of New South Wales, the Brien Holden Vision Institute, and the Singapore Eye Research Institute. They were published in Ophthalmology.

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