Myopia (nearsightedness)

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a condition where things that are far are harder to see.8 Myopia results from an abnormal elongation of the eyeball, which leads to a refractive error, blurring objects viewed at a distance. In other words, distant objects appear blurry until they are brought close to the eyes.9  Imagine sitting in the back of a classroom and not being able to see the writing on the board.

In the U.S., 40 percent of kids have myopia, compared to just 20 percent three decades ago, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.10 By 2020, The World Health Organization (WHO) projects 2.5 billion people worldwide will be myopic, and by 2050 myopia is expected to affect half the world’s population.11 [Read: I’m a parent why haven’t I heard of myopia?]