Childhood myopia prevalence rose to 35.8% by 2023, study shows

The Silent Rise of Pediatric Myopia

When Cassia van der Hoof Holstein noticed her 8-year-old daughter, Viva, struggling to read the board in class, it was a moment of quiet realization. Neither Cassia nor her husband had required glasses until their middle years, making the diagnosis of childhood nearsightedness—myopia—both sudden and unexpected. As she began to research the condition, she discovered that pediatric vision care has changed dramatically since her own school days, growing from a simple inconvenience into a major public health concern.

The Los Angeles Times recently reported on this growing crisis, highlighting how modern lifestyles are physically altering the structure of the human eye. Increased screen time at close range, coupled with a sharp decline in unstructured outdoor play, is causing eyeballs to elongate. This physical stretching weakens the eye, creating a foundation for serious long-term complications such as retinal tears, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. For children diagnosed at younger ages, the stakes are higher; the earlier the process begins, the more time the eye has to progress toward potentially blinding conditions.

A Global Shift in Vision Health

The numbers behind this trend are stark. According to a comprehensive review of scientific literature spanning 50 countries, the global prevalence of myopia in children and adolescents rose from 24.3% in 1990 to 35.8% by 2023. Projections suggest that by 2050, nearly 40% of the world’s youth could be nearsighted. In some regions of Europe, the incidence of vision loss linked to myopia is already rivaling complications typically associated with diabetes.

Dr. Maria Liu, a professor of clinical optometry and vision science at UC Berkeley and founder of the university’s Myopia Control Clinic, notes that the clinical reality on the ground matches these statistics. When her clinic opened in 2013, a diagnosis at age 6 or 7 was considered early onset. Today, she reports that the clinic frequently sees patients as young as 3 or 4.

There’s this tidal wave of visual complications from myopia coming, but it’s hard to see when it’s such a slow, insidious process. — Dr. Sarah Singh, UC Berkeley

The Interplay of Screens and Sunlight

While genetics play a role, the rapid acceleration of myopia rates suggests environmental factors are the primary drivers. The human eye appears to be responding to a world defined by “near work”—the constant focus on surfaces within arm’s reach. This is not a new observation; even Aristotle noted as early as 350 B.C. that squinting seemed to assist with vision. However, the ubiquity of laptops, tablets, and smartphones has intensified this strain on a scale previously unknown to human development.

Equally critical is the lack of exposure to natural light. Experts suggest that sunlight may trigger the release of dopamine in the eye, which helps inhibit the elongation of the eyeball. The International Myopia Institute currently recommends that school-age children spend between 80 and 120 minutes outdoors daily to help mitigate these risks. Dr. Annie Nguyen of the Keck School of Medicine of USC emphasizes that while limiting screen time is beneficial, it is not a complete solution; the necessity of outdoor time remains an essential, non-negotiable component of eye health.

Managing the Progression

Myopia is not currently reversible, but the medical community is moving toward proactive management. Low-dose atropine eye drops have shown promise in slowing the progression of the condition in children, and the FDA has recently approved specialized lenses, such as those produced by EssilorLuxottica, designed to both correct vision and curb further elongation of the eye.

Research continues to evolve as well. Dr. Elise Harb, a pediatric optometrist at UC Berkeley and UCSF, is spearheading a large-scale international study to better understand how daily behavior influences myopia. By using wearable sensors, researchers like Dr. Harb are moving beyond the limitations of traditional questionnaires to gather precise data on a child’s visual environment. For families like the van der Hoof Holsteins, participating in these studies offers a way to contribute to a broader scientific understanding of a condition that, for now, remains one of the most significant, yet invisible, health challenges facing the next generation.