Myopia Facts

To give myopia control more context, we will explore some relevant facts and trends regarding myopia.

• What is myopia? Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, is the lengthening of the eye which causes blurred distance viewing. This means someone with myopia can see things close up clearly, but not far away.
• What causes myopia? The cause of myopia is unknown. Some factors that predict the onset of myopia include children born to myopic parents and children that spend significant amounts of time performing near activities, such as reading or playing video games.
• Why is myopia a concern? Myopia is a concern for two reasons. First, reducing myopia allows for lower prescriptions, making wearing prescription glasses and contacts much easier to manage. Second, reducing myopia will also reduce stress on the eyes, which prevents serious eye complications later in life. 
• More people are becoming myopic. In the 1970s only 25% of Americans were nearsighted compared to 42% today. Globally, it is expected that over 50% of the world’s human population will be nearsighted by 2050.
• The prevalence of myopia is different depending on the region. While over 40% of Americans are nearsighted, some Asian countries have a population that’s over 80% nearsighted.