Cleaner Air Expected to Slow Rising Childhood Myopia Globally

Myopia, or short-sightedness, is rapidly increasing worldwide, with experts predicting that half of the global population will be myopic by 2050, raising risks of serious eye diseases. Research shows that natural daylight exposure significantly protects against myopia by regulating eye growth, yet many children spend insufficient time outdoors. A new international study highlights that cleaner air, specifically lower levels of nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter, is linked to better eyesight in children and can help slow myopia progression, especially in younger primary school children. This study used advanced machine learning to account for genetic and lifestyle factors, isolating air pollution as a modifiable risk factor affecting vision development. Findings indicate that while genetics heavily influence severe myopia and older children's vision, environmental improvements like cleaner air and increased outdoor light exposure can make a critical difference in early childhood. These insights suggest public health strategies should emphasize reducing air pollution and increasing children's outdoor activity to combat the myopia epidemic.