Warning: “Myopia epidemic” may sweep the world!

Eye experts have warned that half the world will need eyeglasses by 2050, leading to a global vision epidemic.

A recent study shows that the rate of myopia (where near objects appear clear, while distant objects appear blurry) has increased by approximately 25% in several countries, including the United States.

Dr. Andrew Herbert, a psychologist who focuses on visual perception at the Rochester Institute of Technology, said this delicate situation could cause up to 4 billion people to need corrective lenses.

Herbert explained that poor eyesight may be due to spending more time browsing electronic devices and books, and spending less time in nature.

"The more time we spend focusing on something an arm's length away from our faces, the more likely we are to develop myopia," he said.

He added: "The increase in cases of myopia is likely to have its worst effects 40 or 50 years from now, because it takes time for young people to be diagnosed with myopia."

Vision usually depends on light passing through the cornea and lens, where it is directed to the retina, located at the back of the eye, which sends signals to the brain to interpret the image.

However, myopia occurs when parts of the eye are distorted, and the eye cannot properly focus on incoming light, making scenes appear blurry.

Myopia usually develops in childhood or adolescence, although it can begin at any age. Herbert pointed out that although this condition runs in families, there is no single gene for myopia, which means that the causes of myopia are behavioral rather than genetic.

In developing countries, Dr. Herbert attributed increases in myopia to rapid development and industrialization, particularly in East Asian countries over the past 50 years. “At that time, young people began spending more time in the classroom reading and less time outdoors,” he said.

Rates also rose in Western Europe, North America and Australia, but not as sharply.

“There appear to be two sure-fire ways to compensate for or delay myopia: spending less time focusing on objects close to your face, such as books and smartphones, and spending more time outside in bright natural light,” Herbert said.