LIFESTYLE NEWS - Myopia – the medical term for “short-sightedness” or the inability to see distant objects is rising at an alarming rate around the world.

Globally, it affects between a quarter and a third of the world’s population and is expected to rise to as much as 50% by 2050, driven by increasingly urbanised lifestyles, greater screen time and less time spent outdoors.

Evidence shows that the chances of a child becoming myopic are reduced by approximately 30% if they spend more than 14 hours a week outdoors yet many children are instead spending large portions of their day engaged in near-work activities such as reading, gaming, and screen use, often indoors and without natural light.

Myopia is the most common refractive vision error and one of the leading causes of poor vision, notably among young adults and school-aged children, whose eyes are still developing and who are at risk of further worsening of the condition.

During Myopia Awareness Week from 23 to 29 May 2025, the Ophthalmological Society of South Africa (OSSA) in partnership with specialist sub-societies the South African Society for Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (SASPOS) and the South African Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgery (SASCRS) aims to highlight the continued rise in myopia cases, particularly in children, and call for greater awareness and early intervention.

Dr Helga Abrahamse-Pillay, president of SASPOS says, “Poor vision has a tremendous negative impact on a child’s ability to learn. A child struggling to see the board or other classroom presentations, following distant objects used in sports or recognising individuals far away may struggle not only in their educational progress, but behaviourally and socially.”

She says Myopia often develops and presents during childhood and may worsen up to the age of about 20, yet could also first develop in adulthood.

Myopia manifests as clear vision for nearby objects but blurry vision for distant ones. Its primary cause often lies in elongated eyeballs, leading light to focus improperly on the retina (the back of the eye).

According to Dr Ed Anderson, president of SASCRS, although Myopia is complex, there is significant evidence that many people inherit the tendency to develop Myopia.

“If one or both parents are nearsighted, there is an increased chance their children will be nearsighted.”

“Individuals who spend considerable time reading, working at a computer, playing video games or doing other intense close visual work, or those who have uncorrected refractive errors such as astigmatism, especially when there is an underlying genetic risk, are more likely to develop Myopia.”

Dr Anderson says although South African data lacks, it’s important for both parents and schools to look out for the signs and symptoms and to seek assistance for their children. Testing for Myopia is required to measure how the eyes focus light and determine the power of optical lenses needed to correct the Myopia.”

“An optometrist or ophthalmologist will be able to test your eyes to identify the underlying problem. It is highly recommended that any child identified as having difficulty seeing the board at school or television at home, see a professional as soon as possible.”

Parents and teachers should be vigilant for signs of near-sightedness which include:

• Holding books close to the face to read
• Sitting very close to the TV
• Rubbing the eyes
• Squinting or straining to read the board or presentations at school
• Disinterest in teaching, often diagnosed as behavioural issues
• Fear or hesitancy to participate in sports

Once diagnosed, several options exist to correct vision impairment and ensure optimal sight. The two main options to regain clear distance vision are:

• Spectacles - For most people with Myopia, spectacles are a successful first choice for correction.
• Contact lenses - Depending on age contact lenses may be more suitable to some individuals.

Other options for adults include:

• Laser surgery - Laser procedures such as LASIK are commonly used for correcting Myopia. In this procedure, a laser beam is used to reshape the cornea (front of the eye) and provide a permanent solution for Myopia.
• Implantable lenses - In this procedure a thin, flexible lens is implanted into the eye. This is mainly used for people who are extremely short-sighted or whose corneas are too thin for laser procedures.

The two main strategies used to prevent Myopia, or at least slow the progression of Myopia once it has been identified include:

• Encouraging outdoor activities and reducing near-work and screen time
• Low-dose Atropine eye drops used daily at bedtime

Additional methods are:

• Special contact lenses or glasses that “defocus” or blur part of the side vision. This has also been shown to slow eye growth and limit Myopia.
• Orthokeratology. The child wears a special hard contact lens while sleeping which is removed in the morning. This changes the shape of the cornea and can improve vision and slow the progression of Myopia. However, it needs to be carefully supervised.
• Newer control methods such as Repeated Low-Level Red Light (RLRL) therapy as well as the growing role of smart devices utilizing AI are under investigation.

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