CHOC doctor: An epidemic of childhood nearsightedness is looming

By Dr. Rahul Bhola

Contributing columnist

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is an increasingly common eye condition that causes distant objects to appear blurry, often requiring corrective lenses. As the medical director of ophthalmology at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (now Rady Children’s Hospital Orange County, or RCHOC), I have seen the condition surge among children in the last decade.

In clinic on a recent day, I saw about 40 patients — and nearly half were evaluated for myopia. Myopia has been steadily rising for years, but since the COVID-19 pandemic, with increased screen time and reduced outdoor activity, we’ve seen an alarming acceleration in diagnoses.

Worsening prediction

The National Institutes of Health projects that by 2050, nearly half the global population will be n