Excel Optometry

Most Americans have never heard of the term Myopia, but we can guarantee that you have met someone with this condition. So, what exactly is Myopia? Myopia is a common eye vision problem that makes far away things look blurry while near objects look clear. This is also known as nearsightedness, a more common and well-known term. Although the problem itself is not really an issue as it can easily be corrected by wearing glasses or having Lasik surgery, there is a growing concern over a growing amount of people reporting to have this vision problem. Read on further to learn about the rising trend in Myopia across the United States. 

Issues in the U.S & Across the Globe

One of the most reported consistencies that ophthalmologists have found through their research is that those who are reporting to have Myopia often live in large urban areas. However, this is not something that is simply being reported within the United States but also across the developed world. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), this vision problem is increasingly being found within school-aged children in Asian countries. In fact, the AAO even reports that by the year 2050, half of the world will suffer from Myopia. 

Why are Myopia Numbers Rising?

As with any health issues that a person may have, part of it will always be because of your genetic makeup. For example, if your parents both had Myopia, there’s a high likelihood that you’re going to have it as well. However, there is another reason why these numbers are growing: children are spending less and less time outdoors. Getting enough sunlight matters because it affects the production of dopamine and how a lack of it greatly affects eyesight. The blurry issues occur because your eyes are not growing enough. When people are starring at a bright and clear computer screen, there’s no reason why your eyes need to grow. This makes your eyes grow longer and longer over time; thus, no dopamine (which helps control elongation) is created, and nearsightedness sets. 

As you can see from the information above, the growing number of people reporting having Myopia is largely due to a lack of outdoor time and an increase in computer time. Unfortunately, because Myopia is irreversible without paying for Lasik surgery, you may need to wear glasses to correct the issue. Parents who want to avoid having their children develop this issue are highly encouraged to provide their children with sunlight for at least an hour a day.