Myopia, or short-sightedness, is a condition in which distant objects appear blurred, but closer objects can usually be seen in sharp focus.
Its biological basis is an eye that, during childhood, has grown too long for its optical power. The focal plane for images of distant objects ends up in front of the retina, causing out-of-focus perception.
Fortunately, mild to moderate levels of myopia can be readily corrected with spectacles, contact lenses or laser surgery, which flattens the front of the eye.
But prevention is better than correcting the optical defocus. Fortunately, spending more time outdoors may decrease children’s chances of developing myopia.
The root causes of the myopia epidemic lie in the imbalance between educational pressures and the amount of time children spend outdoors in bright light. Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images
