A recent study found that the more educated a person is, the greater the likelihood that they are nearsighted. Here we explain how these two things are connected.
Education and myopia – what the research shows
The old myth that nearsightedness is primarily caused by genetic factors has been disproven. A study conducted in Germany showed that the probability of becoming nearsighted increases with each completed year of schooling. In other words, the more educated a person is, the greater the likelihood that they are nearsighted, regardless of genetic predisposition.
A study carried out at the University of Mainz examined nearsightedness in 4,658 participants in Germany between the ages of 35 and 74. Of particular interest was the increased prevalence of nearsightedness among people with higher levels of education. Among those who had completed secondary school, 51% were nearsighted, compared to only 21% of those who had not finished school.
Up to 90% of young people in East Asia are nearsighted
The link between education and nearsightedness is especially evident in East Asia, where up to 90% of young adults are nearsighted. While it might be assumed that East Asian genes simply predispose people in that region to develop nearsightedness, studies conducted so far do not indicate a greater genetic susceptibility to nearsightedness among Asians.
The more likely explanation is that children there begin preparing for university entry already in primary school, and as a result they read a great deal and spend longer periods in front of a computer. Another reason is the shorter time spent outdoors, which likely also affects the development of myopia (nearsightedness).
How to reduce the risk of nearsightedness
One possible way to counter the widespread prevalence of nearsightedness is to spend more time outdoors with your children. Studies have shown that the risk of myopia developing in children can be reduced if they spend around 15 hours a week outdoors during daylight hours. Time spent outside is not only good for the eyes, but for the whole body, keeping people happy and healthy at every age.
It is also important to remember that your eyes need rest from time to time. This includes not engaging in activities that require close visual attention — such as reading or using computers or smartphones — for more than 30 hours a week.
The world today is an exciting place. Research is constantly providing us with greater and more detailed knowledge about eye health and how to maintain it. We would hardly have expected education to be linked to nearsightedness, yet the connection is a logical one. More education means more reading, more studying, and more strain on our eyes. And this has consequences for our eyes if we do not take care of them. The same applies to our children — more time spent indoors means more time spent looking at objects up close, and can therefore cause difficulties seeing objects in the distance.
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