Myopia Research Unveils Gut-Linked Treatments and $240 Billion Global Health Crisis

As myopia rates surge toward a global crisis, a Canadian researcher's exhaustive review of 25 years of studies reveals both alarming trends and groundbreaking strategies to halt the disease's progression in children.

By 2050, 50% of the global population will be nearsighted, with nearly 1 billion suffering from severe myopia. Langis Michaud, a professor at the UdeM School of Optometry, reviews 2,100-2,200 scientific abstracts annually to track myopia research trends.

His work has uncovered a paradigm shift in how the condition is classified: myopia is now recognized as a disease by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and a preventable cause of blindness by the World Health Organization.

Michaud highlights emerging evidence linking gut health to myopia progression. He explained:

"In the last two years, there have been many articles discussing nutrition and the gut microbiome. It may seem far removed from myopia, but research shows an association between severe myopia and inflammation—and the inflammatory cascade begins in the gut."

Environmental factors like outdoor activity, screen time, and diet interact with genetic predispositions (30% risk contribution) to influence myopia progression. Michaud advises parents to avoid early screen exposure: "Parents shouldn't use tablets to soothe a baby in a stroller. They should aim for zero screen time before age two."

Modern interventions include orthokeratology (night-wear lenses), multifocal soft lenses, and low-dose atropine (0.05% optimal). A two-year retrospective study at UdeM demonstrated that myopia progression in young patients was below normal eye-growth rates. Michaud noted:

"We have developed highly effective treatments at our clinic... slower progression reduces the risk of future complications."

Red laser devices for myopia treatment remain controversial, classified as high-risk in China and unauthorized in Canada due to retinal damage risks. The economic burden of myopia is staggering, with annual global losses estimated at $240 billion.

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