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I feel like this has always been a rather obvious thing...for at least what nearly a century or more? The whole trope of glasses are for nerds. Kids who spend

I feel like this has always been a rather obvious thing...for at least what nearly a century or more? The whole trope of glasses are for nerds. Kids who spend time reading a ton are nearsighted. I understood this in elementary school, when the only kids with glasses were the smart ones. (I hated reading, and did not wear glasses, so was not a 'smart one'). I became nearsighted not long after getting a home computer, for similar reasons. My father, an avid farmer and naturist, is farsighted. It seems pretty obvious your eyes adjust to whatever you spend all day looking at. That all said, is it bad? Mine was cured with a rather cheap PRK procedure...and I sure wouldn't give up all I've learned for perfect natural eyesight.

Al-Khwarizmi 4y ago
It was kind of common knowledge that something related to being a nerd was causing myopia, but I'd say most people assumed that the culprits were things like reading and screens, rather than being indoors. Hindsight is 20/20.
- silisili 4y ago
  I replied elsewhere...I disagree that light type is the culprit. If so, why do people in areas without electricity become myopic? That strongly feels like correlation rather than causation at its finest. My brother and I were kids with mostly similar habits. We spent a lot playing outside, but he loved reading his Goosebump books, while I mainly watched TV at a distance. He needed glasses as a kid, and I didn't until we got a computer in my teen years. It completely feels like it's a focusing distance issue.
  - gcbirzan 4y ago
    You disagree with science based on a 'feeling'. Myopia in children is what we're talking about, and sunlight exposure is not the only factor. Similarly, having similar habits doesn't mean you will get the same result.
    - silisili 4y ago
      I get your point, I'm not going to tell you I'm right. But realize the article says 'researchers think' and 'evidence suggests.' Far from proven science. If it's more firmly established, I'll gladly admit I'm wrong.
  - doliveira 4y ago
    The reasoning is supposed to be statistical, so your counterpoint "why do people in areas without electricity become myopic" doesn't even make sense. A proper counterpoint would be "people in areas without electricity have the same chance of being myopic as people in areas with electricity", and well, data seems pretty clear they don't.
    - silisili 4y ago
      Fair point. Would another fair avenue to potentially counterpoint be to ask why countries with less light for long periods, such as Nordic countries, or areas where people spend months at a time indoors like frigid areas, are not more nearsighted than fairweather areas like Singapore? Unrelated, I'm wondering if there is some method to tell. The general fact is, people indoors tend to be focusing on things close by. And vice versa outside. So it feels impossible to conclude without controlling for the other. Can we find people who read or smartphone for hours on end outdoors? Or people indoors who don't do those things?
- mattlondon 4y ago
  I often thought that glasses and people who do a lot of reading etc was a side effect rather than a cause - i.e. that people who read more noticed they needed glasses and we're happy to wear them, but kids who would rather do sports perhaps didn't notice so much and/or were less inclined to wear glasses when playing cricket or whatever
gcbirzan 4y ago
But that's not happens, it's not that your eyes get adjusted to only seeing things closer, rather they don't develop well unless they are exposed to sunlight. Which just goes to prove it hasn't really been obvious all along.
Lio 4y ago
This is very anecdotal. I’ve been using computers since I was 4 years old, starting with a Commodore PET. I’m longsighted, so what do I draw from that? Only that we should use stats properly lest we become superstitious.
- GordonS 4y ago
  As another single data point, I started using a Commodore 64 when I was 5 years old, and have been besotted with computers ever since. 35 years on, and my eyesight somehow still remains fine - I'm slightly short sighted in one eye, slightly long sighted in the other (how does that even happen?!), but opticians always say I don't need glasses. I think you're right - there are simply way too many factors to control for, and statistics is the way.
watwut 4y ago
If you don't read, you don't need glasses. If you don't use glasses and need them, you end up not reading and end up having trouble in school - being treated as dumb.

Al-Khwarizmi 4y ago

It was kind of common knowledge that something related to being a nerd was causing myopia, but I'd say most people assumed that the culprits were things like reading and screens, rather than being indoors. Hindsight is 20/20.

silisili 4y ago
I replied elsewhere...I disagree that light type is the culprit. If so, why do people in areas without electricity become myopic? That strongly feels like correlation rather than causation at its finest. My brother and I were kids with mostly similar habits. We spent a lot playing outside, but he loved reading his Goosebump books, while I mainly watched TV at a distance. He needed glasses as a kid, and I didn't until we got a computer in my teen years. It completely feels like it's a focusing distance issue.
- gcbirzan 4y ago
  You disagree with science based on a 'feeling'. Myopia in children is what we're talking about, and sunlight exposure is not the only factor. Similarly, having similar habits doesn't mean you will get the same result.
  - silisili 4y ago
    I get your point, I'm not going to tell you I'm right. But realize the article says 'researchers think' and 'evidence suggests.' Far from proven science. If it's more firmly established, I'll gladly admit I'm wrong.
- doliveira 4y ago
  The reasoning is supposed to be statistical, so your counterpoint "why do people in areas without electricity become myopic" doesn't even make sense. A proper counterpoint would be "people in areas without electricity have the same chance of being myopic as people in areas with electricity", and well, data seems pretty clear they don't.
  - silisili 4y ago
    Fair point. Would another fair avenue to potentially counterpoint be to ask why countries with less light for long periods, such as Nordic countries, or areas where people spend months at a time indoors like frigid areas, are not more nearsighted than fairweather areas like Singapore? Unrelated, I'm wondering if there is some method to tell. The general fact is, people indoors tend to be focusing on things close by. And vice versa outside. So it feels impossible to conclude without controlling for the other. Can we find people who read or smartphone for hours on end outdoors? Or people indoors who don't do those things?
mattlondon 4y ago
I often thought that glasses and people who do a lot of reading etc was a side effect rather than a cause - i.e. that people who read more noticed they needed glasses and we're happy to wear them, but kids who would rather do sports perhaps didn't notice so much and/or were less inclined to wear glasses when playing cricket or whatever

gcbirzan 4y ago

But that's not happens, it's not that your eyes get adjusted to only seeing things closer, rather they don't develop well unless they are exposed to sunlight. Which just goes to prove it hasn't really been obvious all along.

Lio 4y ago

This is very anecdotal. I’ve been using computers since I was 4 years old, starting with a Commodore PET. I’m longsighted, so what do I draw from that? Only that we should use stats properly lest we become superstitious.

GordonS 4y ago
As another single data point, I started using a Commodore 64 when I was 5 years old, and have been besotted with computers ever since. 35 years on, and my eyesight somehow still remains fine - I'm slightly short sighted in one eye, slightly long sighted in the other (how does that even happen?!), but opticians always say I don't need glasses. I think you're right - there are simply way too many factors to control for, and statistics is the way.

watwut 4y ago

If you don't read, you don't need glasses. If you don't use glasses and need them, you end up not reading and end up having trouble in school - being treated as dumb.