Myopia prevalence in children doubles in 50 years

Myopia is more than twice as prevalent among children in the UK now as it was in the 1960s, according to newly released findings by the College of Optometrists and Ulster University.

The study has found nearly one in five teenagers in the UK are now myopic and that children with one parent with myopia are at least three times more likely to be myopic than those without a myopic parent.

This increased to over seven times more likely when both parents are myopes, according to the College. It has also shown that myopia is most likely to occur between the ages of six and 13 years.