Short-sightedness is rising - and so is the risk of retinal detachment

LIFESTYLE NEWS - The global rise in myopia, or short-sightedness, is raising concerns among eye health specialists, who warn that increasing rates of the condition could contribute to more cases of retinal detachment in the years ahead.

More time spent on close-up activities, including screen use, combined with less time outdoors, has been associated with the increasing prevalence of myopia among children and young adults.

Myopia is already considered a major cause of preventable vision loss in developing countries, with estimates suggesting that around half of the world's population - approximately 5 billion people - could be affected by 2050.

Speaking ahead of Eye Care Awareness Month, from 23 September to 18 October, Dr Schalk du Toit, Executive Committee Member of the Ophthalmological Society of South Africa (OSSA), says myopia is the most significant controllable risk factor for retinal detachment.