Myopia, commonly known as short-sightedness, is rapidly becoming a global health concern. Once believed to be solely genetic, recent studies highlight increased indoor time as a significant contributor, particularly among children whose eyes are still developing.

Shanti Mathias, in an article for The Spinoff, Staring Down the ‘Silent Epidemic’ of Myopia in Children, discusses the alarming rise in myopia and the need for preventative measures to protect children’s vision. Winning a 2024 Science Journalism Award for excellent reporting on science-related topics, this is what this article tells us about the silent epidemic of myopia.

The rise of myopia

Myopia has reached epidemic levels in East Asia. According to Mathias, 90% of urban teenagers in Korea and 65% of children in Singapore are short-sighted by the end of primary school. Chinese officials report that over 50% of children in China are myopic.

Mathias states in the article that “Trend data from meta-research in 2016, incorporating 145 studies with 2.1 million participants, estimated that by 2050, nearly 50% of the world’s population could be myopic”.

While New Zealand’s numbers aren’t as dire as those from Asia, the trend is concerning. Our optometrists at John O’Connor and our colleagues across the country are observing an increase in cases, especially after three years of pandemic-induced indoor activities.

Myopia in New Zealand: A growing concern

In New Zealand, the lack of national data on child myopia makes it challenging to track the exact increase. John Phillips, a senior lecturer in optometry and vision science at the University of Auckland, notes the need for a long-term national program to gather comprehensive data. Despite this, local optometrists, like our team at John O’Connor in Auckland, diagnose children with myopia daily. We refer to it as a “silent epidemic of myopia.”

Impact of indoor lifestyles

With more New Zealanders living in urban areas and children spending enormous amounts of time on screens, there is a valid concern about rising myopia rates. Outdoor activities are crucial for eye health. They provide the natural light and distance focusing that indoor activities lack.

“While the exact mechanism is complex, rising myopia isn’t simply caused by staring into the illuminated rectangles of screens all day; it seems that something about the wavelength, amount and variability of natural light outside – the conditions human eyes were historically adapted to – is where our eyes function best”, Mathias explains.

The importance of catching myopia early

Early detection of myopia is vital. Eye testing can significantly impact a child’s engagement and learning. Many children who struggle to see sit at the front or disengage in class, leading to learning issues. Regular eye exams help identify vision problems early, preventing long-term educational setbacks.

Long-term implications

While glasses can correct how kids see the world, myopia can still lead to severe eye health issues later in life. Myopia stretches the internal tissues of the eyes, increasing the risk of cataracts, glaucoma, and myopic maculopathy. At John O’Connor, our optometrists can’t stress enough the importance of addressing myopia early to prevent these complications.