National Eye Institute Director Discusses Rising Prevalence of Childhood Myopia

According to the National Eye Institute (NEI), myopia rates, especially among children, have spiked dramatically over the past few decades. 

Despite major research investments, the interplay between genetic and environmental influences, such as near work, outdoor light, and electronic device usage, remains unclear, according to NEI Director Michael F. Chiang, MD. At the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) meeting in Seattle, Dr. Chiang cited data that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated myopia rates, and that high myopia could affect nearly 1 billion people worldwide by 2050.

“School-based vision programs are crucial for early detection and correction of myopia,” said Dr. Chiang, noting that uncorrected refractive error is a significant cause of vision loss in the United States, particularly among disadvantaged groups. “Research advances stand to make a big impact on those who need it the most.”

Read the full NEI article here.