Over 4 billion people worldwide will be affected by myopia within just over 25 years, according to a significant analysis of 145 studies involving over 2 million participants. These findings were published in the scientific journal Ophthalmology.
Internationally renowned ophthalmologist and scientific director of the Ambrosiano Ophthalmic Center in Milan, Lucio Buratto, commented on the rapid increase in myopia, particularly among young people. He cited a significant progression, noting that in 1971, 25 percent of the US population was shortsighted, while in 2017, that figure rose to 42 percent.
The exact cause for this rapid increase is not yet known, but there is growing consensus in the scientific community that the use of screens and living indoors are the primary environmental factors contributing to the phenomenon.
Offering hope, Buratto emphasized that solutions are available to correct myopia, including prevention through lifestyle adjustments and various treatment options. He specifically highlighted the effectiveness of laser treatment and ICL lenses as viable solutions for correcting visual defects.
ICL, or Implantable Collamer Lenses, are intraocular lenses that have over 25 years of experience and have been used in over a million people worldwide. Dr. Buratto explained that the implantation of ICL lenses is a safe and effective surgical technique for correcting light and severe myopia, with or without astigmatism.
One of the main benefits of ICL lenses is that they do not change the anatomy of the eye and are reversible. They also reduce the risk of dry eye syndrome, do not change over time, and offer exceptional vision improvement, with recovery times being very short.
Dr. Buratto believes that ICL lenses will become increasingly popular, particularly for myopic patients at the beginning of adulthood and before cataracts, responding to the growing trend of myopia in younger generations.