Nearsightedness On The Rise

Posted in News by Western Laser Eye Associates March 1, 2010

A new study released from the National Eye Institute (NEI) shows that rates of myopia (nearsightedness) are on the rise amongst Americans.

According to the researchers, the rates of myopia in people age 12 to 54 increased from 25 percent in 1971-72 to 41.6 percent in 1999-2004. The survey included people with mild to severe myopia.

The 66.4 percent increase in myopia in Americans since the 1970s, is significant and will impact healthcare costs as well as vision quality. Today, 47 million Americans aged 20 and older are myopic and billions of dollars are spent annually on glasses and contact lenses. In addition, the majority of LASIK and related refractive surgical procedures in the United States are performed to correct myopia. Get more information about myopia here.

This article reprinted with permission from the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s EyeSmart™ campaign (www.geteyesmart.org).
More information is available in Dr. Anderson Penno’s latest book “Laser Vision Correction: What You Need To Know” available at http://www.amazon.com/.

To book a complimentary assessment at Western Laser Eye Associates, contact us today.