Dfor several years, many experts have been warning about the global epidemic of myopia which continues to gain ground. By 2050, half of humanity could become myopic if nothing is done to slow its progression. France is far from being spared: 15% myopes in 1950, 40% in 2020 and 60% in 2050, according to the projections published in the magazine Ophthalmologyin 2016.
Long attributed to heredity, which in reality only accounts for 10% of cases, the explosion of myopia is mainly the result of our lifestyles: 90% of cases are attributable to societal developments, particularly among children, adolescents and young adults: more time in near vision (screens, longer study duration), less time outside (daylight is an established protective factor), disturbed sleep (shorter duration and less good quality of rest).
The situation is becoming more and more critical for our children: in France, one in five now suffers from myopia, and 510,000 children aged 6 to 15 are estimated to have progressive myopia. By worsening year after year, myopia risks becoming “strong” in adulthood and leading to major complications in the long term (retinal detachment, cataracts, etc.) which can, in the most serious cases, go as far as to blindness. Because myopia is not just a simple vision defect, it is a disease in its own right which, in the absence of appropriate treatment, can cause serious disability and a significant cost for society.
Expensive treatments
According to the International Myopia Institute, the potential loss of productivity linked to myopia in 2015 would represent a cost of 250 billion dollars (more than 235 billion euros). Furthermore, high myopia generates high costs due to the price of optical equipment and potential complications that may require expensive interventions and treatments. Finally, we must not forget that significant myopia is a daily handicap for the affected person, often altering self-esteem and professional projects.
If half of French people perceive myopia as inevitable (according to “barometer of myopia in France”, carried out in July 2023 by Ipsos for the Institute of Medical Education and Prevention with a sample of 3,500 French people aged 18 and over), there are however three effective methods of action to limit its progression.
Prevent the myopia of our children is possible by encouraging them to adopt simple reflexes from a very young age: spending at least two hours a day outside in the light of day; limit the time spent on close-up activities (screens in particular); have sufficient lighting to read and keep a distance of at least 30 centimeters from your book or the screen, also taking regular breaks of twenty seconds every twenty minutes while looking into the distance; and finally go to bed early and get enough sleep.
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