US study finds no link between myopia and close work

Researchers in the US have challenged the long-established notion that near work or sitting too close to a television can bring on myopia.

A 20-year study of 4,500 children aged 6-11 by teams at Ohio State University assessed 13 risk factors for nearsightedness to determine the strongest single predictor or set of predictors that could identify those children most likely to develop myopia. These included physical measures and tests of the eyes as well as reports from parents about their children’s activities.

The study, published in JAMA Ophthamology, confirmed that eight of the 13 expected risk factors increased the likelihood that children would become myopic. One important factor was having two nearsighted parents, but researchers said the most surprising exception was near work.