Eye Health Epidemic

ROUGHLY 42% OF Americans are nearsighted today, compared to 25% in 1971. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that about half of the world's population will have myopia, or nearsightedness, by 2050. It's clear that our vision is becoming increasingly blurry, but researchers are only now beginning to understand why.
Generally a childhood phenomenon, myopia happens when the eyeball grows too long from front to back, taking on more of an oval shape versus a sphere. Eyes have a "stop signal" so that they grow proportionally with the head, explains Gregory Schwartz, an associate professor at the Departments of Ophthalmology and Neuroscience at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. However, that signal can be interrupted by genetic and environmental factors, which leads to our eyeballs growing a bit too much, making them too big for the optics (the lens and the cornea, which are responsible for focusing your vision).
The mismatch between the eyeballs and the optics leads to far-off objects looking out of focus. Telltale signs you might have myopia also include headaches, as well as eye strain and tiredness when doing certain activities such as driving or playing sports.
Esta historia es de la edición May 2024 de Reader's Digest US.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición May 2024 de Reader's Digest US.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar

MOOSE ALERT! (THAT'S NO BULLWINKLE)
We thought we were prepared for any wildlife encounter. But not this one.

KEEPER of the FLAME
His best friend died a hero's death in Vietnam. Six decades later, he won't let us forget.

WELCOME HOME!
The best part about leaving? Coming back.

HOW NATURE HEALS
Getting outdoors is as close to a cure-all as you'll find. It's fast and free, with few (if any) side effects.

Paying Attention to Adult ADHD
New awareness and diagnostic tools are helping more of us understand how our brains work

News FROM THE WORLD OF MEDICINE
WHY IT'S SMART TO GET THE EARLY-BIRD SPECIAL

My Forever Tree
A beloved sugar maple slowly succumbed to disease. Today, she lives on in a new form.

New Ways to Relieve Pain
Don't resign yourself to a life of discomfort. Here's how to stop hurting.

THE SQUATTER IN MY HOUSE
YOUR HOME IS YOUR CASTLE-UNTIL SOME STRANGER INSISTS IT'S THEIRS

Serving Some Tennis Facts
A GRAND SLAM isn't just a four-run homer in baseball or a breakfast order at Denny's. It also refers to winning tennis's four major tournaments, two of which are about to start: the French Open (May 25 to June 8) and Wimbledon (June 30 to July 13).