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Myopia could affect 740 million young people by 2050, research suggests
A recent study into the prevalence of myopia, or nearsightedness, in children and young people describes it damningly as a global public health concern.
Researchers analyzed the results of a whopping 276 health studies involving more than 5 million people in total and found that around a third of the world is nearsighted. Myopia could affect 740 million young people by 2050. But nearsightedness is not evenly distributed around the world �not even close and that numbers are (mostly) rising. If reading this gives you motion sickness, or if you need to take a break from your screen for 20 seconds, we wont hold it against you. These are some startling findings!
Japan is the most nearsighted country in the world
According to the study, published in the academic journal Epidemiology in August 2024, Japan is by far the most myopic, or nearsighted, country in the world.
Note: Myopia is the medical name for nearsightedness. Or, in British English, short-sightedness. It means you can see objects that are near clearly but cant focus on objects that are further away. Myopia is variously described as a condition, a disease, and a growing global health concern.
The researchers estimate that 86% of people (about 6 out of every 7) in Japan are nearsighted. Next on the list is the Republic of Korea, where 74% of people (3 out of every 4) are myopic. Nearly half of people in the Russian Federation are shortsighted, while in Paraguay, less than 1% of people are.
Prevalence rates in the US, UK, Germany, India, Vietnam, and Sweden were all relatively close to each other, falling somewhere between 15% and 25%.
1 in 3 are nearsighted but that number is projected to increase
Currently, about a third of people globally are nearsighted, according to the researchers. However, that number is likely to rise.
One of the reasons for this is the amount of time people spend looking at things that are very close to their eyes, such as smartphones, laptops, and books, while their eyes are developing.
The researchers suggest that starting school early, as many children do in Singapore, Taiwan, and China, might influence the incidence of myopia during childhood.
On the other hand, African populations tend to be less nearsighted than their East Asian and West European counterparts. The researchers attribute this to lower literacy rates and delayed initiation of formal education. In many parts of Africa, people start school aged 6-8, they write.
In urban areas in some countries, 80-90% of the children who finish high school suffer from myopia. Meanwhile, children who grow up in rural areas are much less likely to develop nearsightedness. Another reason to raise your kids in the countryside.
Consider eye-protective measures to prevent myopia
Over the next 25 years, the researchers predict a 9% rise in nearsightedness globally.
This will amount to a substantial burden on healthcare systems, they suggest, with up to 740 million children and adolescents in total affected between now and 2050.
They recommend further academic research towards developing evidence-based approaches to preventing myopia from spiraling out of control.�
In the meantime, they suggest young people develop the habit of regularly practicing eye-protective measures. These could include:
- Decreasing time spent watching TV, playing computer games, and surfing the Internet
- Increasing time spent on physical activity
Schools and governments can do their bit, too. By reducing the burden of excessive homework and off-campus tutoring on young students, institutions can give young people the option of maintaining a lifestyle that is less likely to lead them to develop myopia.�
Yeah! No more homework!
