Myopia Epidemic and Its Effect on Mexico's Urban Teens

By 2050, an estimated 5 billion people—nearly half of the world's population—will suffer from myopia, with urban children particularly vulnerable due to increased vision work. This trend, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, poses significant risks such as glaucoma and cataracts. Despite being correctable, myopia remains the leading cause of global vision impairment and blindness, resulting in substantial economic losses. Urgent global action is needed to prevent and manage these potentially severe complications, states the World Economic Forum (WEF) 

Myopia, or near-sightedness, is rapidly increasing worldwide due to both genetic predispositions and modern lifestyle factors. WEF highlights that myopia remains the leading cause of global vision impairment and contributes to substantial economic losses, with global productivity losses exceeding US$200 billion annually.

The development of Myopia may be affected by how a person uses their eyes. The Community Eye Health Journal states that urban children are particularly at risk because they spend significant time reading, using computers, playing video games, or engaging in other intense close visual work, often indoors.

According to the study titled Neighborhood Poverty and Maternal Fears of Children’s Outdoor Play older generations spent more time playing outside as children compared to many 21st-century children. With increasing urbanization, more people live in cities, and parents are more likely to keep their children indoors for safety reasons, leading to increased screen time and gadget use.

A study titled The New Normal: Parents, Teens, and Mobile Devices in Mexico highlights the significant increase in screen time and mobile device use among urban teens in Mexico, potentially contributing to the development of myopia. Conducted across all 32 states of the Mexican Republic, the study revealed that two-thirds (67%) of urban teens report using their mobile devices almost constantly, with nearly half (47%) checking their devices several times per hour. Moreover, the study found that texting has become the preferred method of communication for 67% of urban teens, surpassing in-person interaction (50%), and phone calls (40%).

While correctable with glasses or lenses, Myopia poses serious risks such as glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal detachment. In severe cases, it can lead to conditions like macular degeneration and blindness, according to WEF.  Research suggests that increased outdoor time and exposure to natural light may help prevent myopia. Natural light intensity, dopamine release in the eye, and Vitamin D synthesis from sunlight are believed to play critical roles in maintaining healthy eyesight.