From Study Finds, September 25:
Research led by Dr. Yajun Chen, Sun Yat-Sen University
GUANGZHOU, China — Vision problems are becoming an issue of pandemic-like proportions. Concerningly, a new study finds nearly a billion children worldwide will have to grow with glasses.
Specifically, researchers in China have found that myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, is on the rise globally among children and teens. The research, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, paints a concerning picture of the future, predicting that by 2050, nearly 740 million youngsters worldwide could be affected by this condition.
The study, led by researchers from Sun Yat-Sen University in China, analyzed data from 276 studies involving over 5.4 million participants across 50 countries. Their findings reveal that the global prevalence of nearsightedness among children and teens has increased significantly over the past three decades, from 24.32% in the 1990s to 35.81% in the early 2020s.
This surge in myopia rates is particularly pronounced in certain regions and demographics. East Asian countries, for instance, show the highest prevalence, with Japan topping the list at a staggering 85.95%. The study also found that girls are more likely to develop myopia than boys, especially during adolescence.
Interestingly, the research highlights a notable disparity between developed and developing countries. Contrary to what one might expect, developing or underdeveloped nations show a higher prevalence of myopia (31.89%) compared to developed countries (23.81%).
“The early implementation of formal education in certain East Asian nations could potentially serve as a contributing element,” the researchers suggest in a media release....
....MUCH MORE
September 9, 2023
"The World Is Going Blind. Taiwan Offers a Warning, and a Cure"
