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Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

economist.com

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Re: Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

#81

Post by Lio »

silisili wrote: post #65

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,…

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.

Re: Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

#82

Post by gcbirzan »

silisili wrote: post #75
Al-Khwarizmi wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

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…

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.

Re: Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

#83

Post by gcbirzan »

jart wrote: post #41
harshreality wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Myopia is a risk factor for floaters, retinal detachment, and glaucoma. It's objectively not neutral, despite that glasses exist. Glasses are also inconvenient, cost money, can be lost or broken, and don't cover the entire field of vision, and contacts have their own problems.

I can't believe you're serious. I wear glasses and there's nothing wrong with me. Last thing I want is to live in a world where I'm pressured to be genetically engineered for having the wrong kind of eyes.

Not the wrong kind, but broken. And, while your vision might be fine, the other issues are still there.

Re: Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

#84

Post by simonh »

ldx1024 wrote: post #79

It may just be a pet peeve, but it rankles me a bit when the term "epidemic" is used to describe widespread conditions that are not communicable/infectuous. Looking at the dictionary it appears the usage here is legitimate, but my guess would be that it is a misuse that has become accepted, like using the term "begging the question" to mean suggesting the question.

All novel linguistic constructs are 'misuses' in some sense or another that have become accepted.

In this case that's not so though, the etymology is from the Greek '(upon|near|against) the people, and does not necessarily refer only to disease.

Re: Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

#85

Post by silisili »

gcbirzan wrote: post #82
silisili wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

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.

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.

Re: Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

#87

Post by occamschainsaw »

ldx1024 wrote: post #79

It may just be a pet peeve, but it rankles me a bit when the term "epidemic" is used to describe widespread conditions that are not communicable/infectuous. Looking at the dictionary it appears the usage here is legitimate, but my guess would be that it is a misuse that has become accepted, like using the term "begging the question" to mean suggesting the question.

I agree, the usage of the word “epidemic” has become an epidemic.

Re: Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

#88

Post by AndrewDucker »

stackbutterflow wrote: post #54

I noticed my eyesight gets better after many hours outside not looking at any screen. And worsen after many hours in front of a screen. Is there a name for that?

Tiredness of the eye muscles after many hours forcing the focus to a short distance.

Re: Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

#89

Post by rnd420_69 »

stackbutterflow wrote: post #54

I noticed my eyesight gets better after many hours outside not looking at any screen. And worsen after many hours in front of a screen. Is there a name for that?

have you verified that it actually gets better and that you're not just getting used to it?

I used to think the same thing when I just tried not wearing glasses for a while. I could swear that it was awful at first but over time my no-glases eyesight improved tremendously. I then did a really simple distance reading test and it was obvious that it didn't improve at all and the effect was imagined.

Re: Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

#90

Post by mattlondon »

Al-Khwarizmi wrote: post #69
silisili wrote: post #65

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,…

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.

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
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