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How many of us would believe that an individuals level of education may have a greater impact on myopiathan genetics? According to German researchers, this could well be the case. During research, it found the condition increased in prevelence and severity during each year in education.
Myopia is more commonly known as being nearsighted and shortsighted. Myopia is a condition where light filtered into the eye does not directly focus on the retina but actually on the front of it. This invariably causes the image that the person sees at a distance to be out of focus, but in focus when close up. In most cases vision can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses.
Researchers at Mainz University, Germany looked at 4,658 people ranging from 35-74 years old. This was all part of a larger study called the Gutenburg Health Study which has been running since 2007. Of everyone who was involved in this study, 24% had no high school eductaion but did find that 35% with a high school education were myopic. This percentage jumped to 53% for university graduates.
Early symptons of Myopia are blurry distance vision but a general good near vision. A diagnosis is generally confirmed with an eye examination.