5 billion people to be short-sighted by 2050

A study led by The University of New South Wales (UNSW) has shown half the world’s population will be myopic by 2050, while one-fifth — about 1 billion — will be at a significantly increased risk of blindness if current trends continue.

The number of people with vision loss from high myopia is expected to increase seven-fold from 2000 to 2050, with the condition to become a leading cause of permanent blindness worldwide.

Myopia, which affects about one in four people in Australia, is also known as ‘short-sightedness’ or ‘near-sightedness’, and causes people to have difficulty seeing objects clearly into the distance. Many people can correct or control the condition by glasses, contact lenses and refractive surgery.

The causes of the eye condition are both genetic and environmental — it can affect children (youth-onset myopia) or adults aged 20–40 with no prior childhood eye problems (adult-onset myopia), while people can also be born with high levels of myopia (congenital myopia).

The authors of the study, however, believe that increased urbanisation and close-range activities like reading and computer work are increasing the incidence of myopia.

The study indicates a major public health problem, with the authors suggesting that planning for comprehensive eye care services are needed to manage the rapid increase in high myopes (a five-fold increase from 2000), along with the development of treatments to control the progression of myopia and prevent people from becoming highly myopic.

“We also need to ensure our children receive a regular eye examination from an optometrist or ophthalmologist, preferably each year, so that preventative strategies can be employed if they are at risk,” said co-author Professor Kovin Naidoo, CEO of the Brien Holden Vision Institute at UNSW.

“These strategies may include increased time outdoors and reduced time spent on near-based activities, including electronic devices that require constant focusing up close.

“Furthermore, there are other options such as specially designed spectacle lenses and contact lenses or drug interventions, but increased investment in research is needed to improve the efficacy and access of such interventions.”

The study, by researchers at the Brien Holden Vision Institute at UNSW and the Singapore Eye Research Institute, is published in the journal Ophthalmology.

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