one-half of the world ’s universe may shortly be in need of chalk . According to a troublingrecent study , scientist are predict that by 2050 , close to five billion people will be nearsighted . While that might not vocalise like a big deal — glass , after all , are no longer consider a fashion fake pop — the study also predicts an increase in severe shortsightedness , which can direct to blindness .
harmonize toEurekAlert ! , a sevenfold increase in myopia is promise from 2000 to 2050 , and up to one in 10 people around the globe may eventually be at hazard for blindness . Scientists are n’t sure what is do such uttermost increases in nearsightedness , though they believe environmental factors are potential the culprit . “ Environmental factors ( nurture ) , principally lifestyle changes result from a combination of decreased time outdoors and increased near body of work bodily function , among other factors , " are to find fault , say the study ’s authors .
scientist are working on pinpointing the exact causes of , and potential cures for , myopia . So far , they know that light plays an important role in eye development , and that by strip developing eye of light , they can induce myopia in animate being . WIREDexplains that scientist have induced shortsightedness in untried monkeys , chicken , and tree shrews by covering one of their eyes during infancy . They also incur that they could deoxidize have myopia in wimp by exposing them to bright light afterward on .
alas , exposure to bright Inner Light does n’t change by reversal nearsightedness in all cases , and the proficiency has n’t been tested on human subjects . In general , it ’s unmanageable for scientists to pinpoint the accurate causes of human myopia , and therefore its cure , since human testing normally is n’t possible . But studies have found a worldwide link between spending time alfresco as a nipper and cut risk of myopia . Until a therapeutic is found , scientist are recommending more frequent trip-up to the optometrist for risk assessments . It may also be a beneficial idea to reduce screen time and make love the great open a higher antecedence .
[ h / tEurekAlert ]
