Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have observed a concerning increase in nearsightedness, also called myopia, among students worldwide. The majority of the population stayed indoors during lockdown, so most were connected to their screens, whether for education or social media. Nearsightedness is estimated to continue rising in the next few decades.
Myopia is a very common condition with 13 million known cases in the United States as of 2023. Nowadays, many children and adolescents participate in activities that are known to cause nearsightedness. “Reading at an earlier age and a lot of screen time, unfortunately, can cause nearsightedness,” Menlo Park optometrist Dr. Cindy Pouw, who has been working in optometry for 10 years, said.
Over the past century, rapid advancement in technology has led to increased screen time, particularly among young adults. In response, the optical industry has adapted to keep pace, developing solutions to protect eye health such as blue light glasses. “There are blue light filters in our glasses for people using computers and for people doing a lot of reading,” Dr. Pouw said.
According to a study by the British Journals of Ophthalmology, nearsightedness is estimated to have a global prevalence rate of 32.21% by 2030. Though this is startling, researchers and optometrists are working to catch things in the early stages. In recent years, they have developed specialized contacts, glasses, and other medications for kids that can be helpful to keep nearsightedness from worsening. “Soft contact lens myopia treatment can be prescribed now that is also FDA approved.” Dr. Pouw said.
Myopia has affected many students at M-A. Freshman Yuwa Ishida started wearing glasses in seventh grade and has worn them daily since eighth grade. “I have trouble seeing stuff that’s far away, and it makes my head hurt sometimes,” he said.
To prevent his vision from worsening, Ishida has taken several steps. “I’ve tried to have my glasses off whenever I can and try to relax my eyes sometimes just to take a break from the screen,” he said.
Sophomore Clara de Barros has had glasses since fifth grade, but dislikes how they disrupt her daily activities. “When I played soccer, it did affect me because I forgot them,” she said. Barros has tried contacts in the past, but found her eyes became irritated.
Myopia increases the risk of eye diseases like glaucoma and retinal detachment, which can harm people later in life. But these infections can be prevented by having regular eye appointments with an optometrist and having yearly eye examinations.
