Massive rise in Asian eye damage

[hellheaven1987]

Up to 90% of school leavers in major Asian cities are suffering from myopia - short-sightedness - a study suggests.

Researchers say the "extraordinary rise" in the problem is being caused by students working very hard in school and missing out on outdoor light.

The scientists told the Lancet that up to one in five of these students could experience severe visual impairment and even blindness.

In the UK, the average level of myopia is between 20% and 30%.

According to Professor Ian Morgan, who led this study and is from the Australian National University, 20-30% was once the average among people in South East Asia as well.

"What we've done is written a review of all the evidence which suggests that something extraordinary has happened in east Asia in the last two generations," he told BBC News.

"They've gone from something like 20% myopia in the population to well over 80%, heading for 90% in young adults, and as they get adult it will just spread through the population. It certainly poses a major health problem."

Eye experts say that you are myopic if your vision is blurred beyond 2m (6.6ft). It is often caused by an elongation of the eyeball that happens when people are young.

According to the research, the problem is being caused by a combination of factors - a commitment to education and lack of outdoor light.

Professor Morgan argues that many children in South East Asia spend long hours studying at school and doing their homework. This in itself puts pressure on the eyes, but exposure to between two and three hours of daylight acts as a counterbalance and helps maintain healthy eyes.

The scientists believe that a chemical called dopamine could be playing a significant part. Exposure to light increases the levels of dopamine in the eye and this seems to prevent elongation of the eyeball.

"We're talking about the need for two to three hours a day of outdoor light - it doesn't have to be massively sunny, we think the operating range is 10-20,000 lux, we're not sure about that - but that's perfectly achievable on a cloudy day in the UK."

Source

An interesting research, which I wonder whether the parents of East/Southeast Asia should think about whether it is worth to push their children so hard on the expense of their children's health.

[Phier]

They need more sunlight.

I thought this was a known issue and obvious solution for a while now. Must be a slow news day for the health section.

[Ludicus]

Exposure to light ... this seems to prevent elongation of the eyeball.

Old news, vampires in particular are myopic. Seriously now, google "Sydney Myopia Study".

[Copperknickers II]

Proof that, as we have long known, being a Nerd is bad for your eyesight. I always wondered why literally every Chinese pupil in my school has glasses.

[Voodo chile]

Proof that, as we have long known, being a Nerd is bad for your eyesight. I always wondered why literally every Chinese pupil in my school has glasses.

Now that you mention it, the same thing here.
Never thought about that before...

I wonder though, for this to occur, you would have to have your curtains closed and not go near windows too often and go to school/work early in the morning and leave at night when the sun is down.

[Nutsack]

maybe they just have to stop keeping their eyelids near closed all the damn time.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Nikephoros Kapatsos]

maybe they just have to stop keeping their eyelids near closed all the damn time.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I thought it was their skull shape that stretched their eyes

[Robin de Bodemloze]

Old news

[StealthFox]

heading for 90% in young adults, and as they get adult it will just spread through the population. It certainly poses a major health problem."

Wait, this makes it sound like it's going to be passed from adult to child, but isn't it caused be environment (lack of sunlight) and not genetics?

[Ulyaoth]

They mean the kids will become adults and increase adult rates of myopia, as more kids grow up to be four eyes.

[Vir Triumphalis]

I think I might be suffering from myopia. My sight gets blurry 3-4 meters away. When I try to coyp the words and numbers written by my teachers on the chalkboard, I usually change seats. It's really bugging me. Can't tell my mother about this, because she'd be raged to hear that I might have an eye problem.

[Ludicus]

(lack of sunlight) and not genetics?

Both.Genes (multiple myopia genetic loci have been identified) and multiple environmental factors that work together.

[strategist.com]

Ok I couldn't cite a reliable source but a friend of mine says brown eyes tend to become myopic because of melanin. Not sure if it's true :-/

[Ludicus]

Ok I couldn't cite a reliable source but a friend of mine says brown eyes tend to become myopic because of melanin. Not sure if it's true :-/

Nope. Myopia is considered to be of multifactorial origin. There are multiple factors involved, for example environmental and genetic factors. Autosomal dominant and recessive myopia have been described and also x-linked myopia. Sex and race also affect the destribuition of myopia.
Epidemiology of myopia

[DimeBagHo]

About 10 years back I took a class in evolutionary psychology that was taught by a guy who was a big name in the field. He said myopia was almost exclusively caused by a genetic factor plus learning to read. He claimed that the evidence for this was rock solid but rarely publicised because no one wanted to discourage kids from reading. IIRC he mentioned studies in Alaska where myopia was nearly non-existent when the native population was mostly illiterate, but became very common within a generation when compulsory schooling and literacy became the norm.