Mine has been bad (nearsighted) since childhood and getting steadily worse ever since. Both my parents were nearsighted too, so in my case genetics probably pla

Mine has been bad (nearsighted) since childhood and getting steadily worse ever since. Both my parents were nearsighted too, so in my case genetics probably played a significant role. But in general, I don't think it can be a matter of genetics alone; the rise in myopia among the general population has been too fast for that. Here is what looks like a more plausible explanation: http://www.nature.com/news/the-myopia-boom-1.17120 http://www.nature.com/news/the-myopia-boom-1.17120