Dr. Karla Zadnik

Myopia – or nearsightedness – has seen a drastic increase among Americans over the last 20 years.  It seems to become apparent most often in children, especially between the ages of 5 – 15.  Figuring out what causes myopia, and why it appears at such a specific time in the lives of young people – has become the mission of Dr. Karla Zadnik.

Click to watch the complete video interview.

In a major study that stretched across the continent and followed almost 5000 students from 1st to 8th grade with detailed annual examinations, Dr. Zadnik and her team have put together a rich body of information with which they are now working to determine what conclusions might be drawn.  Preliminary results have produced at least one stand-out theory.  While the major factor impacting a tendency toward myopia remains genetics (”We can’t choose who our parents are,” says Dr. Zadnik during the interview) – it turns out that some of the commonly held beliefs about other causes – too much reading, too much television, lightness, closeness – are not necessarily as clear cut as once believed.

Once again we see how dedication and commitment can hold together a complex and years-long research program – involving multiple teams in a variety of geographic and cultural settings – and thousands of children.

A brief preview of the complete interview is also available (YouTube).