There’s some evidence that short-sighted people have a higher than average IQ, which may be because the same genes affect the eyes and brain.
Asked by: Mark Buckmaster, Leicester
Vision defects such as myopia (short-sightedness) aren’t caused by just one single gene. There’s some evidence that short-sighted people have a higher than average IQ, which may be because the same genes affect the eyes and brain. Vision defects often have environmental causes as well. Myopia is more common in people who do a lot of close-up work, have saturated fat in their diet and sleep with a light on. These are all relatively new in our evolutionary history.
Subscribe to BBC Focus magazine for fascinating new Q&As every month and follow @sciencefocusQA on Twitter for your daily dose of fun science facts.
Luis trained as a zoologist, but now works as a science and technology educator. In his spare time he builds 3D-printed robots, in the hope that he will be spared when the revolution inevitably comes.
Subscribe to BBC Science Focus Magazine and try 3 issues for just $9.95
Discover our latest special editions covering a range of fascinating topics from the latest scientific discoveries to the big ideas explained.
Listen to some of the brightest names in science and technology talk about the ideas and breakthroughs shaping our world.
By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.