Nearsighted people are often smarter

People with myopia are more likely to be better educated and therefore smarter.

The link was discovered as scientists investigated the reasons behind the rising rates of myopia in children across Europe.

Myopia has become a common disease worldwide in recent years. In the US, it affects more than 40% of the population. In the UK, the figure ranges from 20 - 30%. Meanwhile, in developed Asian countries, the rate of myopia has reached 80% and is increasing rapidly.

Myopia is a refractive error that causes visual dysfunction. The eyeball is elongated. Instead of light rays converging on the retina, they converge in front of the retina, causing myopic children to only be able to see objects close to the eye and not see distant objects clearly.

In the UK, myopia has increased from 18% in those born between 1910 and 1939 to more than 50% in those born in the 1940s and later.

This has led scientists to question whether environmental factors play a role or whether education and intelligence contribute to the high rates of myopia.

The rate of children with myopia is increasing nowadays. Photo source: ibtimes

Some researchers say myopia is largely genetic, but others blame modern lifestyles for the condition. In the new study, scientists gave 3,452 volunteers eye exams and tested their intelligence, as well as other factors such as age and years of schooling.

"The results showed that people with myopia had higher cognitive abilities and educational levels than normal people. In addition, intelligence quotient also increased corresponding to the level of myopia," said Alireza Mirshahi, the scientist leading the research.

As a result, 24% of myopic people are people who have not attended high school or have not undergone any training. About 35% of myopic people are high school graduates and vocational school graduates. Of which, the proportion of myopic university graduates accounts for more than half (53%).

The researchers also looked at the impact of 45 genetic markers, but these did not affect the degree of myopia as strongly as education. Alireza, a leading expert at the ophthalmology department at the University of Mainz in Germany, found that the most important factor, and one closely linked to intelligence, was years of schooling.

“Cognitive ability is partly inherited. The other part is reinforced and enhanced by education. So it is quite closely related to myopia,” Alireza said.

Working too much on computer screens in the present era is the main cause of eye damage. Besides, the younger generation tends to stay indoors rather than spending time outdoors. Therefore, the eyes will not have proper growth and adaptation.

According to Infonet