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Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

economist.com

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Re: Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

#281

Post by lisper »

jedberg wrote: post #278

When I was a kid, we had a "no TV when the sun is up" rule. That included computer screens, which were literally TVs when I was a kid. Of course I violated that rule when my parents weren't looking, but for the most part I spent a lot of time playing outside, especially in summer. This is of course anecdotal, but I'm 45 and still don't need glasses. I'm trying to do the same with my kids, but sometimes it's just too…

When I was a kid we didn't have a computer. Home computers didn't exist until I was in my teens. We had one 12-inch black-and-white TV that received four channels when the rabbit ears were set up properly. I spent a lot of time outdoors.

This is of course anecdotal, but I have needed glasses since before fifth grade.

(I got my first pair of glasses in fifth grade, but in retrospect it was clear that I needed them much earlier. I can still vividly remember the first I ever tried on my new glasses and being astounded at the level of visual detail that existed in the world. Stars! Leaves on trees! Wow! I had no idea.)

Re: Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

#282

Post by higgins »

geoffmanning wrote: post #263

I read the title and immediately agreed, but i had misinterpreted "short-sightedness" as the inability to consider the long-term effects of our choices and habits, at least to the effect of making positive changes, rather than the ocular deficiency.

Strategic title to get more clicks

Re: Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

#283

Post by lemoncucumber »

geoffmanning wrote: post #263

I read the title and immediately agreed, but i had misinterpreted "short-sightedness" as the inability to consider the long-term effects of our choices and habits, at least to the effect of making positive changes, rather than the ocular deficiency.

How myopic of you

Re: Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

#284

Post by baron816 »

geoffmanning wrote: post #263

I read the title and immediately agreed, but i had misinterpreted "short-sightedness" as the inability to consider the long-term effects of our choices and habits, at least to the effect of making positive changes, rather than the ocular deficiency.

The Economist has another article this week that's basically about that: https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/06/09/miamis-su.... It's about Miami and how local, county, State, and Federal governments are just totally incapable of planning long term for climate change.

Re: Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

#286

Post by plonk »

spiffytech wrote: post #268

In my early teens I had 20/15 vision. By the time I went to college I was wearing glasses for nearsightedness. I'm pretty sure it's because I got interested in computers, and started spending all day staring 3ft ahead instead of glancing around outdoors. Some friends in my computer science program passed around each other's glasses and found we all had nearly the same prescription. That didn't seem like a coincidence…

I spent 10 hours a day on computers when I wasn't at school during middle school. Started at the end of primary school and continued until now. I pass the letter-reading tests at the GP when I'm not too tired, so I think I have pretty good vision.

Maybe that's because I didn't always have a computer nearby and had to spend time outside too as a kid.

Re: Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

#287

Post by stevebmark »

nickbauman wrote: post #220
sandstrom wrote: post #192

For several decades it has been known that myopia (nearsightedness) and intelligence are correlated[1][2]. Initially it was speculated that reading caused nearsightedness, and through that higher intelligence. There is probably some truth to that. But with modern DNA sequencing techniques researches has found genes that seem to affect both[3][4]. The hypothesis is that one (or a set of) genes affects both eye size gr…

I thought the increase in nearsightedness originated in kids not playing outside as much (and thereby not focusing their eyes over longer distances) resulting in eyesight that's more attuned to shorter distances.

This is correct and how myopia works. Not because of an increase in natural light. There’s ample evidence for this.

Re: Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

#288

Post by adverbly »

sandstrom wrote: post #192

For several decades it has been known that myopia (nearsightedness) and intelligence are correlated[1][2]. Initially it was speculated that reading caused nearsightedness, and through that higher intelligence. There is probably some truth to that. But with modern DNA sequencing techniques researches has found genes that seem to affect both[3][4]. The hypothesis is that one (or a set of) genes affects both eye size gr…

I heard somewhere that the speculation was that the cerebral cortex is physically next to your eyes, so a big brain stunts your eyes... anyone know if there was any truth to that?

Re: Shortsightedness has become an epidemic

#289

Post by DharmaPolice »

qiskit wrote: post #280
geoffmanning wrote: post #263

I read the title and immediately agreed, but i had misinterpreted "short-sightedness" as the inability to consider the long-term effects of our choices and habits, at least to the effect of making positive changes, rather than the ocular deficiency.

Quoted post unavailable.

The Economist is a British publication and in the UK we use "shortsighted" more than "nearsighted"

E.g. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/short-sightedness/

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