Myopia is becoming more common worldwide at a dramatic pace — especially among children and young adults. Understanding why it develops is the first step to protecting your child’s eyesight.

It Starts with the Eyeball Growing Too Long

Myopia is essentially the result of the eyeball growing too long during childhood. Most of this growth happens between the ages of 6 and 18, which is why myopia most commonly appears during school years and can worsen rapidly.

What Drives This Growth? The Main Risk Factors

1. Family Genetics

Genetics plays a significant role. If one parent has myopia, the child’s risk of developing it roughly triples. If both parents have myopia, the risk is 6 times higher than in children with no family history. However, genetics alone does not explain the rapid rise in myopia — lifestyle factors are equally important.

2. Too Much Near Work

Spending long hours reading, studying, using tablets, smartphones, or computers puts sustained strain on the focusing muscles of the eye. Research suggests that prolonged near work — especially held very close to the eyes — may signal the eye to grow longer.

3. Not Enough Time Outdoors

This is one of the most important and best-proven protective factors. Children who spend 1 to 2 hours outdoors every day have significantly lower rates of myopia. Bright outdoor light stimulates the release of dopamine in the retina, which acts as a natural brake on eye growth. Screens and indoor lighting are far too dim to produce this effect.

4. High Academic Pressure and Urban Lifestyle

Countries and cities with very high educational demands show the highest rates of myopia — up to 90-97% of young adults in some East Asian cities are myopic. Urban children tend to spend more time studying and less time outdoors, in smaller spaces, under artificial light. India’s urban children are now showing 3 times the rate of myopia compared to rural children.

5. Parental Myopia

Children of myopic parents are at much higher risk and should have their eyes checked from the age of 5 or 6, even if they have no symptoms. Early detection allows early treatment, which gives the best results.

6. Age of Onset

Children who become myopic at a very young age (before 8 years old) tend to progress faster and end up with higher myopia by adulthood, putting them at greater risk of complications. The younger the onset, the more important active management becomes.

What Can Parents Do?

• Outdoor time: Encourage at least 1-2 hours of outdoor play every day
• Screen breaks: Follow the 20-20-20 rule — every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds
• Reading distance: Hold books and phones at arm’s length (40-45 cm)
• Regular eye checks: Annual examination from school age, every 6 months if myopia is present
• Speak to a specialist: If a child already has myopia, discuss myopia control treatments