New WIRED magazine article on the epidemic of nearsightedness

WIRED magazine released a new article today discussing the increasing prevalence of myopia, or nearsightedness. It’s true: we know our eyeballs grow and elongate in our youth, but we don’t yet fully understand the mechanisms by which our eyes calculate when to stop growing. This research is being conducted in labs around the world, but one of the leading labs tackling this mystery is at the University of California, Berkeley where Dr. Christopher Gee and Dr. Sara Chiu earned their doctorate degrees. In fact, Dr. Chiu was recognized with an award in 2006 for her active role in the research of myopia.

While much of the physiology remains a mystery, and while research on this topic continues to pour out, we do have a repertoire of methods to slow down the progression of myopia in young people. And these methods work! There are methods that utilize unconventional glasses prescriptions, methods that utilize contact lenses, and methods that utilize custom-made eye drops. Dr. Gee and Dr. Chiu are experts in this field and are constantly reviewing the latest research to maximize the potential of “myopia control.”

If this is something that concerns or interests you, either because your nearsightedness seems to keep getting worse each year or because you know you’re passing your nearsightedness genes on to your child, schedule an appointment to discuss which options pose the greatest chance of success for you or your child.