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As many as 30% of children and teens across the world were nearsighted in 2023, a new study has revealed.

Diagnoses of nearsightedness (myopia) are expected to worsen over the next two decades, according to the findings, which were published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

By 2050, nearly 740 million young individuals worldwide are expected to have the condition, lead study author Dr. Yajun Chen, a professor at Sun Yat-sen University in China, told Fox News Digital.

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“The study also highlights significant disparities in myopia rates across different regions, suggesting that factors such as gender, ethnicity and culture play a crucial role,” he said.

“Understanding these variations is crucial for tailoring prevention and intervention strategies to specific at-risk populations.”

In the study, researchers analyzed 276 studies that included more than 5.4 million participants from 50 countries across all six continents. 

Rates of nearsightedness were highest in East Asia (35.22%), in urban areas (28.55%), among females (33.57%), among adolescents (47%) and among high school students (45.71%), the study found.

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Myopia can progress rapidly during critical growth periods, particularly in children and adolescents, Chen noted.

There was a significant spike in myopia after the COVID-19 pandemic, research has shown.

By 2050, nearly 740 million young individuals worldwide are expected to have myopia, the researchers found. (iStock)

“During the pandemic, many countries implemented nationwide lockdowns to curb the spread of the virus,” he said.

“Prolonged indoor living reduced outdoor activity for children and adolescents while increasing screen time, potentially exacerbating the ocular burden on this population and worsening the myopia crisis.”

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Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, was not involved in the study but commented on the findings.

“Diet may play a role, but I think the greatest reason for the increase, especially coming out of the pandemic, is due to lockdowns and being indoors more,” he told Fox News Digital.

“Untreated myopia can lead to more severe vision problems later in life.”

With increased screen time, kids and teens have fewer opportunities for the eye muscles to have to adapt, Siegel said.

“For example, going back and forth from looking close to looking far, and accommodating to light by going from indoors to outdoors, and talking to people in person — all of those exercise the small eye muscles that keep you from getting nearsighted,” he added.

Warnings of long-term effects

Dr. Jesse Willingham, an optometrist at Brighter Outlook Vision in North Charleston, South Carolina, warned that unaddressed vision problems can have several significant consequences for children, including academic problems, social and emotional struggles, behavioral issues and long-term eye health issues. 

I think the greatest reason for the increase, especially coming out of the pandemic, is due to lockdowns and being indoors more,” one medical expert told Fox News Digital. (iStock)

“We all understand that being able to see clearly is important for school, but there are many different visual skills we need for learning,” Willingham, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.

“Nearsightedness is the most common developmental vision problem, but early vision problems can start with tracking difficulties, poor ability to adapt the focus of the eyes or use the two eyes as a team, or other functional problems that arise from too much stress on the visual system at an early age,” he added.

Study limitations

The study did have some limitations, Chen acknowledged.

“The major limitation of the included studies is the disparity in the designs and methods utilized,” he said.

Parents should ensure that their children receive regular eye examinations starting at a young age, the researcher recommended.  (iStock)

“The quality of included epidemiologic studies varied significantly within and among the reviews, ranging from high to low risk of bias.”

There is also a possibility of “uneven distribution of data” among countries within any given continent, Chen said.

“As a result, our reported findings might be biased because they were mainly influenced by data from a limited number of countries.”

Studies included in the analysis also varied in terms of criteria and procedures for assessing nearsightedness, Chen noted.

Bringing solutions into view

Creating a supportive environment at home and in schools can encourage children to adopt healthy habits that protect their vision, the researchers said.

Unaddressed vision problems can have several significant health consequences for children, a doctor cautioned. (iStock)

Experts offered the following interventions to help reduce the prevalence of myopia among youth.

1. Promote outdoor activities

Families should prioritize outdoor playtime, Chen recommended.

“Schools can organize outdoor activities and encourage sports, creating a culture that values physical engagement and natural light exposure,” he said.

2. Manage screen time

For very young children who haven’t started school yet, Willingham recommends only allowing screen time when video-chatting with friends and family. 

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“For school-aged children, matching screen time one-to-one with outdoor time and limiting screen sessions to no more than 20 minutes at a time are good rules of thumb,” he told Fox News Digital. 

“Also make sure screen time is done ergonomically, with screens held at least 12 inches away and done while maintaining good posture.”

3. Schedule regular eye exams

Parents should ensure that their children receive regular eye examinations starting at a young age, Chen recommended. 

With increased screen time, kids and teens have fewer opportunities for the eye muscles to have to adapt, a doctor noted. (Getty Images)

“Early detection and intervention is crucial, as untreated myopia can lead to more severe vision problems later in life,” he said. 

“It’s also beneficial to stay informed about new treatments and technologies aimed at slowing myopia progression, such as specialized contact lenses and eye drops.”

It’s important to choose an eye care provider who understands visual development, according to Willingham. 

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“Developmental optometrists have more training and experience in this area, and are typically affiliated with OVDRA, the Optometric Vision Development and Rehabilitation Association,” he said.

“If your child is at high risk of developing nearsightedness or is already nearsighted, consider finding a myopia management specialist through organizations like TreeHouse Eyes.”

4. Participate in community initiatives

Engaging with community programs aimed at preventing myopia, such as vision screening events or educational outreach, can help reduce the prevalence, according to Chen.

“Prolonged indoor living reduced outdoor activity for children and adolescents while increasing screen time, potentially exacerbating the ocular burden on this population and worsening the myopia crisis,” one eye doctor said. (iStock)

Integrating vision education into school curricula and supporting public health campaigns focused on myopia prevention can also be effective, he added.

“By taking these proactive steps, everyone can contribute to reducing the prevalence of myopia and promoting healthier vision for children and adolescents,” Chen said.

New York has reported the state’s first death from Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), a disease that spreads through bites from mosquitoes.

The patient was the first person to contract EEE in New York since 2015, according to a press release issued by the state on Monday.

“Keeping New Yorkers safe is my top priority,” Governor Hochul said in a statement.

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“Following the first confirmed human case of EEE, my administration took statewide action to help protect communities – and with today’s declaration, we’re making more state resources available to local departments to support their public health response.”

“We’ve been informed this patient has passed away from EEE; we extend our sympathies and our hearts go out to their family.”

State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald has declared EEE an imminent threat to public health, which will make more resources available for prevention measures, such as spraying to reduce mosquitoes.

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The state has announced plans to expand access to insect repellent in parks and campgrounds, and is encouraging New York residents to take steps to protect against mosquito-borne illness.

What is EEE?

Eastern equine encephalitis is caused by a virus that is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which describes EEE as a “rare but serious disease.”

Only a few cases are reported in the U.S. each year, most in the Eastern or Gulf Coast states, the agency states on its website.

Some Northeastern towns have enacted voluntary lockdowns due to the rise in EEE cases. (iStock)

Humans and other animals that contract the virus are considered “dead-end hosts,” the CDC states, which means they can’t spread it to mosquitoes that bite them.

“EEE is only spread to humans via a mosquito bite, and cannot be transmitted directly by other humans or horses,” Dr. Kurt Vandock, PhD, a public health expert and VP of strategic growth for Mosquito Squad, told Fox News Digital.

The patient was the first person to contract EEE in New York since 2015.

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Common symptoms of EEE include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, stiff neck, seizures, behavioral changes and drowsiness.

These usually appear five to 10 days after being bitten.

“Most people have no symptoms; others get only a mild, flu-like illness with fever, headache and sore throat,” Vandock said. 

Using insect repellents that contain DEET can help to protect against mosquito bites, experts say. (iStock)

“For people with an infection of the central nervous system, a sudden fever (103º to 106º), severe headache and stiff neck can be followed quickly by seizures and coma.”

The disease can be deadly, resulting in fatalities for 30% of infected people. It can also lead to chronic neurological deficiencies, per the CDC.

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“The best way to confirm any illness is with an approved and accurate test administered by a medical professional,” said Vandock.

“Eastern equine encephalitis is a serious disease with symptoms occurring fast,” he warned.

“If you live in an area with noted EEE activity and have flu-like symptoms after being bitten by a mosquito, you should seek medical care immediately.”

Concerns of wider infection

In addition to New York, other states that have reported human EEE cases include Massachusetts, Vermont, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Wisconsin and New Hampshire.

“Anytime life is put at risk by vector-borne disease, we are concerned,” Vandock said.

“As viral loads increase and transmission rates follow this trend, it is a sign that interventions are necessary to help reduce the risk of transmission,” he went on. 

Common symptoms of EEE include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, stiff neck, seizures, behavioral changes and drowsiness. (iStock)

“One case of any vector-borne disease is one too many.”

As far as why cases have been more prevalent in northeastern states, Vandock said there’s no simple answer.

“Conducive weather patterns, high population density, the heavy presence of the primary vector and seasonality — coinciding with increased outdoor activity — can create the perfect storm for rapid transmission,” he said. 

“One case of any vector-borne disease is one too many.”

The black-tailed mosquito (Culiseta melanura), the primary vector of EEE, can be found in large numbers in the Northeastern United States, according to Vandock. 

“It is known to feed mainly on birds, but does not typically feed on humans,” he said. “As a result, the transmission of EEE to humans and horses is generally thought to occur via ‘bridge vectors,’ which contract the virus from infected birds and can then pass the virus on to other hosts.”

The mosquitoes that act as “bridge vectors” can be found in the Northeast areas where transmission is occurring, the expert noted. 

The risk of contracting the EEE virus is highest during the summer months — especially toward the end of summer, when people go back outdoors as temperatures cool, Vandock said. 

The mosquitoes that act as “bridge vectors” can be found in the Northeast areas where transmission is occurring, an expert noted.  (iStock)

“Anyone who lives or works close to wetlands and swamps is also at an increased risk,” he said. 

The Midwest saw a similar outbreak of EEE in 2019 in Michigan, Vandock noted, as many schools canceled after-school activities after numerous fatalities from the disease. 

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“Current trends suggest that with increasing globalization, population densities, ranges of competent hosts and a favorable climate, the occurrence of EEE and other vector-borne diseases will increase,” he added.

Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, said he is not concerned by the increase in cases.

“It is still a very slight uptick, and it is confined to mosquito transmission,” he told Fox News Digital, adding that he only anticipates “sparse cases” in other parts of the country.

Treatment and prevention

There is currently no vaccine for Eastern equine encephalitis, and supportive care is the only means of treating symptoms. 

A mosquito control inspector sprays pesticide to kill mosquitos amid a Zika virus outbreak in Miami, Florida, in 2016. (Getty Images)

Educating the public about the risk, encouraging mosquito repellent use, and spraying to control the mosquito population are the best ways to prevent infection, according to experts.

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The state of New York issued the following recommendations for prevention.

1. Wear long sleeves, pants and socks when outdoors during periods of high mosquito activity, such as dusk or dawn.
2. Use insect repellents that contain DEET.
3. Ensure that there are screens in all windows and doors.
4. Eliminate standing water in outdoor areas where mosquitoes tend to breed.