The Rising Myopia Pandemic: Causes, Risk Factors, and Modern Clinical Management

Dr.Prashaant Chaudhry, Dr.Vidya Chaudhry, Dr.Amit Mehtani, 11 mins read

In urban centres across India—especially throughout Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR)—eye care specialists are witnessing an unprecedented rise in nearsightedness among children, teenagers, and young adults. Often referred to as the "Myopia Pandemic", this rapid escalation has made progressive myopia a primary public health concern rather than a simple vision inconvenience.

Left unchecked, high myopia (> -6.00D) significantly increases the risk of vision-threatening conditions later in life, including retinal detachment, myopic macular degeneration, early-onset cataracts, and glaucoma.

At Aakash Eye Care (located on the 7th Floor of Aakash Healthcare Super Speciality Hospital in Sector 3, Dwarka, New Delhi), leading ophthalmic specialists—Dr Prashaant Chaudhry, Dr Vidya Nair Chaudhry, and Dr Amit Mehtani—are delivering evidence-based, preventive, and surgical eye care to slow myopia progression in children and restore clear vision in adults.

What Is Myopia and Why Is It Spreading Rapidly?

Myopia (nearsightedness) occurs when the eyeball grows too long from front to back (excessive axial length) or the cornea is overly curved. As a result, light rays focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it, causing distant objects to appear blurry while close-up vision remains clear.

Key Drivers Behind the Global Spike

Intense Near-Work & Screen Time: Prolonged usage of smartphones, tablets, computers, and close-distance reading strains the eyes' accommodation mechanism.
Reduced Outdoor Exposure: Lack of exposure to natural sunlight—which stimulates dopamine release in the retina to regulate healthy eyeball growth—is a major contributor to rapid axial elongation in growing children.
Genetic Susceptibility: Children with one or both myopic parents have a significantly higher risk of developing nearsightedness at an earlier age.

Latest Management Guidelines: Slowing Progression in Children

Modern paediatric ophthalmology has shifted focus from merely prescribing stronger glasses each year to active myopia control. Clinical guidelines recommended by the eye specialists at Aakash Eye Care include:

1. Lifestyle & Behavioural Interventions

The 20-20-20 Rule: Every 20 minutes of close work, look at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds to relax intraocular muscles.
Sunlight & Outdoor Play: At least 90–120 minutes of daily outdoor activity in natural daylight serves as a protective barrier against rapid eye elongation.

2. Optical & Pharmacological Controls

Low-Dose Atropine Eye Drops (0.01% – 0.05%): Daily application of low-concentration atropine drops has proven effective in slowing axial eye length growth in pediatric patients with minimal side effects.
Specialized Defocus Lenses: Prescription spectacle lenses designed with Peripheral Defocus Management (e.g., DIMS or HAL technology) focus central vision while altering peripheral focus to signal the eye to stop lengthening.
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K): Specially fitted rigid contact lenses worn overnight temporarily reshape the cornea, providing clear vision during the day without glasses while slowing axial elongation.

3. Refractive procedures for myopia management available at Aakash Eye Care Dwarka: the eye department at the hospital is fully equipped, offering the patients latest refractive procedures like SMILE, customised LASIK, PRK, ICL and other lens-based procedures for the management of myopia

Expert Care at Aakash Eye Care, Dwarka, New Delhi

At Aakash Eye Care, patients benefit from a multidisciplinary team of senior ophthalmic surgeons:

Dr Prashaant Chaudhry: Senior Consultant & HOD of Ophthalmology and Refractive Surgery, specializing in cornea, LASIK/SMILE, ICL, and complex anterior segment procedures with over 18 years of clinical leadership.
Dr Vidya Nair Chaudhry: Senior Ophthalmologist and Paediatric Eye Care Specialist, leading comprehensive eye care and specialized treatments for paediatric vision disorders and progressive myopia.
Dr Amit Mehtani: Senior Consultant in Ophthalmology, bringing 20 years of experience in medical retina, phacoemulsification, and diabetic eye care.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. What is myopia in the eye?: Myopia, also called nearsightedness, is a common vision condition in which distant objects appear blurry while nearby objects remain clear. It usually occurs when the eyeball grows too long or the cornea has too much curvature, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it.

Myopia is a refractive error that affects distance vision.
Common signs include squinting and difficulty seeing distant objects.
It can develop during childhood and progress through the teenage years.
Glasses, contact lenses and certain surgical procedures can correct vision.

2. What is the cause of myopia?: Myopia causes include excessive eyeball growth, genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. Children whose parents have myopia may have a higher risk of developing it. Spending less time outdoors and doing prolonged close-up activities may also contribute to its development, particularly during childhood.

Family history can increase the likelihood of developing myopia.
Limited outdoor time is associated with a greater risk in children.
Extended close-up work may contribute to its development.
An eye examination can help identify myopia early.

3. What are the first signs of myopia?: The first signs of myopia often include difficulty seeing the classroom board, road signs or distant television screens clearly. Children may squint, sit closer to screens or complain of headaches after visual activities. Some people have mild myopia without obvious symptoms, making regular eye examinations important.

Blurred distance vision.
Frequent squinting to see clearly.
Eye strain or occasional headaches.
Children sitting close to the television or holding objects near their faces.

4. Can myopia be corrected permanently?: Yes, myopia can often be corrected with

glasses, contact lenses or refractive surgery. Procedures such as LASIK, SMILE and PRK reshape the cornea to improve how light focuses on the retina. However, these procedures correct the refractive error rather than necessarily stopping the underlying growth of the eye or eliminating future retinal risks.=

Glasses and contact lenses provide non-surgical vision correction.
LASIK, SMILE and PRK may suit eligible adults.
ICL may be considered for selected patients, including some with high myopia.
A comprehensive examination is needed to determine suitable treatment.

5. What is the difference between myopia and hyperopia?: Myopia and hypermetropia are opposite types of refractive errors. Myopia, or nearsightedness, usually makes distant objects blurry, whereas hyperopia, also called hypermetropia or farsightedness, can make nearby objects difficult to see clearly. Both conditions occur when the eye does not focus light correctly on the retina.

Myopia: Light focuses in front of the retina.
Hyperopia: Light focuses behind the retina.
Myopia is commonly corrected using minus-powered lenses.
Hyperopia is commonly corrected using plus-powered lenses.

6. Is minus 7.5 eyesight bad?: A prescription of −7.50 dioptres indicates high myopia because it exceeds the commonly used −6.00 D threshold. It can cause significant blurred distance vision without correction. Although glasses or contact lenses can improve vision, people with high myopia should have regular eye examinations to monitor retinal health and other potential complications.

The minus sign indicates nearsightedness.
The prescription alone does not determine how well someone sees with correction.
An eye specialist may recommend a dilated retinal examination.
LASIK or ICL suitability depends on individual eye measurements and overall eye health.

7. At what age does myopia start?: Myopia commonly begins between the ages of 6 and 14, although it can develop earlier or during adulthood. It often progresses throughout childhood and adolescence as the eyes grow. Detecting myopia early allows eye specialists to monitor changes and consider treatments that may slow its progression.

Watch for squinting or difficulty seeing the classroom board.
Family history may increase a child's risk.
Outdoor activities may help reduce the risk of developing myopia.
Schedule regular eye examinations for children, especially if symptoms appear.

8. Is myopia a serious problem?: Mild myopia can usually be managed effectively with glasses or contact lenses. However, high myopia, commonly defined as a prescription of −6.00 dioptres or more, increases the risk of eye complications, including retinal detachment, glaucoma and myopic macular degeneration. Regular eye examinations help monitor vision and detect potential complications.

High myopia may require ongoing retinal monitoring.
Sudden flashes, numerous new floaters or a curtain-like shadow require urgent eye assessment.
Myopia management can help address progression in children.
Correcting vision does not eliminate all risks associated with high myopia.

9. What is the highest myopia?: There is no single universally accepted maximum prescription for myopia. Very high myopia can extend well beyond −10.00 dioptres, and some individuals have substantially stronger prescriptions. The clinical concern is not only the prescription number but also excessive eye length and the associated risk of retinal and other eye complications.

High myopia is commonly classified at −6.00 D or more.
Eye length can help assess the risk associated with myopia.
Very high prescriptions may require specialised vision correction.
Regular retinal examinations are important for people with high myopia.

10. Is minus 5.75 legally blind?: No, a prescription of −5.75 dioptres does not automatically mean someone is legally blind. Legal blindness is generally determined by best-corrected visual acuity or visual-field measurements under the applicable country's criteria, not by the glasses prescription alone. An eye examination is needed to assess actual visual function and overall eye health.

−5.75 D indicates significant nearsightedness but is below the commonly used high-myopia threshold.
Glasses or contact lenses may provide clear functional vision.
Legal blindness criteria vary by jurisdiction.
High myopia can still increase the risk of retinal complications.

11. Is LASIK better for myopia or hyperopia?: LASIK can correct both myopia and hyperopia in appropriately selected patients. It reshapes the cornea to improve how light focuses on the retina, but neither condition automatically makes someone a better candidate. Suitability depends on prescription stability, corneal thickness and shape, eye health, and the degree of refractive error.

LASIK is commonly used to correct myopia.
It can also correct certain degrees of hyperopia.
Some patients may be better suited to SMILE, PRK or ICL.
A detailed preoperative evaluation is essential before choosing a procedure.

12. Is high myopia a disability?: High myopia is not automatically considered a disability. Many people with high myopia achieve good vision using glasses, contact lenses or appropriate procedures. However, severe complications or vision that remains substantially impaired despite correction may affect daily activities and could qualify under applicable disability criteria, depending on the assessment and jurisdiction.

High myopia increases the risk of certain retinal conditions.
Corrected vision and uncorrected vision are not the same.
Disability eligibility depends on functional vision and applicable legal standards.
Regular eye care helps monitor long-term eye health.

13. How is myopia diagnosed?: Myopia is diagnosed through an eye examination that measures refractive error and checks how clearly a person sees at different distances. An eye specialist may use a refraction test

and, when appropriate, dilating drops to obtain an accurate prescription. Additional examinations may be recommended to assess eye health and monitor progression, particularly in children.

Distance vision testing identifies difficulty seeing faraway objects.
Refraction testing determines the appropriate lens prescription.
Children may need additional testing with dilating drops.
Retinal examinations may be important in high myopia.

14. What is a myopia lens, and which lens is best?: A myopia lens is designed to correct nearsightedness by helping light focus correctly on the retina. Standard minus-powered spectacle lenses and contact lenses improve distance vision, while specialised defocus lenses may also help slow myopia progression in some children. The best option depends on age, prescription, eye health and treatment goals.

Single-vision glasses correct blurred distance vision.
Specialised spectacle or contact lenses may help manage progression in children.
Orthokeratology lenses are worn overnight under specialist supervision.
An eye specialist can recommend an appropriate lens based on individual needs.

15. What is the opposite of myopia?: The opposite of myopia is commonly described as hyperopia, also called hypermetropia or farsightedness. In myopia, distant objects appear blurry because light focuses in front of the retina. In hyperopia, light focuses behind the retina, which can make close-up tasks difficult, depending on the person's age and degree of refractive error.

Myopia is associated with minus-powered lenses.
Hyperopia is associated with plus-powered lenses.
Both conditions can be diagnosed through an eye examination.
Glasses, contact lenses or selected refractive procedures may correct either condition.

16. How do you pronounce myopia?: Myopia is pronounced my-OH-pee-uh. It is the medical term for nearsightedness, a condition in which distant objects appear blurry while nearby objects are usually clearer. Understanding the term can help patients discuss their symptoms, eye examination results and available treatment options with an eye care professional.

Pronunciation: my-OH-pee-uh.
Meaning: Nearsightedness.
Related term: Hyperopia, or farsightedness.
An eye examination can confirm whether blurred distance vision is caused by myopia.

17. Do people with myopia have higher IQ?: No, myopia does not mean that a person has a higher IQ. Some studies have found an association between myopia and academic achievement or educational exposure, but this does not establish that myopia causes higher intelligence. Intelligence is influenced by many factors, and eyesight alone cannot determine a person's intellectual ability.

Myopia is a refractive error, not a measure of intelligence.
Genetics and environmental factors can influence myopia.
Academic achievement and IQ are different measures.
An eye examination can assess vision but cannot measure intelligence.

Protect Your Family's Vision Today

Early detection is critical in halting progressive myopia in children and preserving long-term retinal health in adults. Schedule a comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation with our specialist team at Aakash Eye Care, Dwarka, New Delhi.

Location: 7th Floor, Aakash Healthcare Super Speciality Hospital, Plot No. 201, Sector 3, Dwarka, New Delhi, Delhi 110075
OPD Timings: Monday – Saturday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Appointments & Helpline: Call +91 88000 15998 or visit the Aakash Healthcare OPD Desk.