Over 9 Million Americans Are Severely Nearsighted

A new study has found that about 9.6 million Americans are severely nearsighted. Rates of nearsightedness -- also known as myopia -- in the United States rose from 25 percent in the early 1970s to 40 percent around 2000, the study authors said. Most cases of nearsightedness can be corrected with eyewear or surgery. The researchers estimate that nearly 820,000 Americans have a degenerative form of myopia called progressive high myopia, which can cause weakening of the retina. Lead author of the study, Dr. Jeffrey Willis said, "The findings emphasize the growing issue of nearsightedness and the burden it creates in terms of medical complications that cannot be fixed with just glasses or contacts,"