Sharp Rise in Childhood Myopia

A study by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) has found that childhood myopia nearly triples between the ages of 8 and 12 among schoolchildren in Terrassa. The research, conducted by the Vision, Optometry and Health (VOS) group at the UPC’s Terrassa School of Optics and Optometry (FOOT), shows myopia prevalence rising from 12.3% at age 8–9 to 28.7% after three years of follow-up. Children in this age group experience an average annual progression of 0.29 dioptres toward myopia, a shift that worsens over time and increases the risk of high myopia (6 dioptres or more) by adolescence.

Key Risk Factors Identified

The study highlights several risk factors. Girls show faster ocular growth than boys, making them a higher-risk group. Children from families with lower socioeconomic status and those with a family history of myopia are also more likely to develop the condition. Additionally, children of non-Caucasian backgrounds, mainly of Maghrebi or Latin American origin, start at age 8 with a longer axial eye length, though their rate of eye growth over time is similar to that of Caucasian peers.

"It’s possible to anticipate the onset of myopia," researchers said, advocating for earlier ophthalmological screenings to slow progression.

Long-Term Public Health Concern

The findings come from the Terrassa Childhood Visual Health Cohort (CISViT), a longitudinal project launched in 2021 that now includes over 2,500 children from public and charter schools in Terrassa. The study is one of the first to provide long-term refractive error data for children in Southern Europe. Researchers warn that if current trends continue, more teenagers could face severe vision problems in coming years. Experts link the rise to increased screen time and reduced outdoor activity. The VOS group is calling for earlier and more frequent eye screenings in primary schools across Catalonia to improve early detection and intervention.

Primary sources: upc.edu. Reported by russpain.com, diarideterrassa.com, 3CatInfo, diaricatalunya.cat.