Over 80 million children are affected by the myopia epidemic and the economic cost is estimated at an annual $268 billion worldwide. In this blog, we’ll cover what myopia actually is, the symptoms you should look out for and the countries that are suffering the most and least from the condition.
What is Myopia?
Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a refractive error in your eye. This means that the eye doesn’t refract light properly to a single focus which enables you to see images clearly.
Myopia typically begins in children and you may be more at risk if both your parents are nearsighted.
For more information on myopia, then head over to our dedicated myopia treatment page.
Myopia Symptoms
Some common symptoms of myopia can include the following:
- Eye squinting.
- Eye strain.
- Headaches.
- Fatigue feeling when playing sports or driving.
When it comes to your children, however, there are some other signs you need to look out for yourself, as they probably won’t tell you about the myopia symptoms as they won’t be aware. The NHS advises to look out for these additional signs and symptoms:
- Regularly rubbing their eyes.
- Sitting close to the TV.
- Needing to sit near the front of the class at school because of difficulties to see the whiteboard.
- Complaints of tired eyes and headaches
The Myopia Epidemic Around The World
From bustling cities of the western world to developing societies in the east, this interactive map will reveal the countries that are being swept with an epidemic of myopia and the countries that aren’t.
Find out more below with this infographic below, showing where the myopia epidemic has the greatest presence.
Find out more about eye health, laser eye surgery and vision on our guides page.
