Myopia is also known as short-sightedness. While many people may associate it with being a mere inconvenience that can be fixed with glasses, the reality is far more concerning. People with myopia, particularly children with early onset myopia, are at risk of developing high myopia which can lead to serious eye diseases that could ultimately cause blindness.
By 2050 over 50 per cent of the world’s population is expected to suffer from myopia. It is rapidly becoming one of the world’s leading causes of vision impairment, with the fastest rise occurring in young children. Globally, experts are seeing a surge in myopia, exacerbated by COVID-19 lockdowns, which saw children remaining inside and learning through screens.
At the Lions Eye Institute, we are actively researching how to curb this epidemic. Professor David Mackey AO, Dr Jessica Mountford and Dr Samantha Lee are all doing vital research in
this area.
