Why is there an epidemic of short-sightedness in Asia?

Kids, it's time to go outside... ?


Asked by: Joanne Moore, York

In China, around 90 per cent of young people are now affected with short-sightedness – a six-fold increase since the 1950s. In Seoul, 96.5 per cent of 19-year-old men are affected.

The problem is also spreading worldwide. The cause is hotly debated, but attention is focusing on the lifestyle of 21st-Century children – specifically, getting too little exposure to daylight, which seems to influence eye development.

Read more:

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.