Experts chart rapid rise of medical condition set to hit 740m children by 2050 - girls are more at risk than boys READ MORE: Experts warn of 'epidemic' in nearsightedness with half the world needing glasses by 2050 By Luke Chafer Published: 06:47 EDT, 20 October 2024 | Updated: 06:53 EDT, 20 October 2024 e-mail View comments Parents are being warned of the rapid rise in short sightedness in children, as a third of kids now need glasses according to landmark global study. According to the research, cases among children and teenagers set to top 740million cases by 2050. Experts have long warned it is because youngsters are spending less time outdoors and more time watching TV and playing video games.
But scientists said Covid, which saw millions forced to stay indoors, may have 'accelerated vision deterioration' in kids. Short-sightedness, or myopia, is a growing global health concern which is set to affect millions more children by 2050, the study warns. The research published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology analysed 276 studies found that global rates of myopia have tripled between 1990 and 2023, rising to 36 per cent.
The prevelance has been increasing each decade from the 90's -- between 2001-2010 25.3 per cent of young people had the condition compared to 29.7 between 2011-2019.
Reseearchers revealed that girls are more likely to suffer from short sightedness than boys Experts have long warned it is because youngsters are spending less time outdoors and more time w.