Myopia, or nearsightedness, has been increasing over the past few decades among adults and is showing up more in very young children, even preschool-age kids. It is the inability to focus on objects far away or even just not nearby. Some optometrists and ophthalmologists (eye doctors) think this rising epidemic of myopia can be attributed to electronic displays. Computers, iPads, cellphones and video games occupy a lot of our time, more now than a few decades ago before nearsightedness escalated.
People who are nearsighted tend to have eyeballs that are more egg-shaped than spherical. This characteristic has been associated with a higher risk for other more serious eye diseases such as cataracts, retinal detachment and glaucoma. Mark Jacquot, an optometrist and clinical director of vision care at LensCrafters, mentions a “major lifestyle shift that’s been brewing over the last 30 years… contributing to a reduced ability to focus on things farther away, which is essentially myopia.” FULL REPORT
