Excessive Studying Linked To Short-Sightedness

A new study has shown that excessive studying leads to greater chances of developing short-sightedness (myopia).

Myopia is an eye condition in which close objects appear clearly, but far ones do not due to light focused in front, instead of on the retina, thus leading to several visual impairments worldwide with headaches and eye strain as symptoms.

The discovery was proven by researchers from the University of Bristol and Cardiff University as they set out to determine whether education is a causal risk factor for myopia, or myopia is a causal risk factor for more years in education.

The researchers analyzed 44 genetic variants associated with myopia and 69 genetic variants associated with years of schooling for 67,798 men and women aged 40 to 69 years from the UK Biobank database using a technique called Mendelian randomisation.

According to report, many studies have pointed out strong links between education and myopia, but it is not clear whether increasing exposure to education causes myopia.

However, the results proofed that more time spent on studying is a risk factor for myopia and that the result “has important implications for educational practices”.

Meanwhile, Ian Morgan at the Australian National University and colleagues say the evidence suggests that it is not only genes but environmental and social factors that may have major effects on myopia.

“Early onset allows more time for myopia to progress to high and potentially pathological myopia,” they warn, adding that education systems “must change to help protect the visual health of future generations”.