The eyes have it

In parts of Asia, more than 80% of school-leavers need glasses to see properly. (Image: Getty)

Sat, 25 Jun 2022

The numbers are stunning. In some parts of East Asia – think Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and parts of China – more than 80% of school-leavers need glasses to see properly. Fifty years ago, the share was 25% or less. The problem is less acute in Europe and the Americas, but even there the best numbers we have suggest that between 20% and 40% of young adults need their vision corrected. That is roughly an order of magnitude higher than what scientists think is the “natural” rate of myopia.The rapid rise in Asia, in...

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