Over a third of children worldwide were nearsighted in 2023, and this figure is projected to rise to almost 40% by 2050, according to new research. The study, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, reveals a significant increase in the prevalence of myopia among children and adolescents over the past three decades, rising from 24% in 1990 to nearly 36% in 2023.
The research, conducted by scientists from Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China, analyzed the results of 276 studies involving more than 5.4 million children and adolescents in 50 countries across all six continents. The study found that East Asian children had the highest rate of nearsightedness, at 35% - more than twice the rate of their White peers. Japan topped the list, with 86% of children reported to be nearsighted, followed by South Korea at 74%.
The researchers noted a spike in nearsightedness after the Covid-19 pandemic and highlighted regional disparities. They suggested that the high prevalence of myopia in East Asian countries could be partly due to children starting formal education at an earlier age compared to other regions. The study also found that globally, children in urban areas have higher rates of myopia than those in rural areas, and girls were slightly more likely to suffer from the condition than boys.
The researchers recommend that young people develop the habit of regularly practicing eye-protective measures. They suggest that students should increase the amount of time spent on physical activity and decrease the time spent on non-active activities such as watching television and videos, playing computer games, and surfing the internet. They also call on officials to reduce the burden of homework and tutoring on students, as well as promoting eye exams, early detection, and treatment. CNN reports.