Rates of short-sightedness increasing in the UK

Our changing environment, as well as changing gene-environment interactions, could explain increasing rates of short-sightedness over time in the UK, reports a new study led by UCL researchers. In a new paper published in PLOS One , researchers showed that, within the study, there were a higher number of people diagnosed with short-sightedness within the younger population than those born between 1939 and 1944. Short-sightedness is when objects in the distance appear blurred. It is thought to affect around one in three people in the UK and is becoming more common. While often treatable with glasses or even surgery, this can be costly. The team studied data from 107,442 people within the UK Biobank study aged between 40 and 69 years old. As part of the study everyone underwent a detailed eye exam and provided information about their history of vision problems.
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