Dramatic Increase in Nearsighted Americans

It is typically thought that nearsightedness is primarily genetic.  However, that can’t be the case based on data coming from the National Eye Institute¹ at the National Institutes of Health.  Their research shows that over the last 30 years the number of nearsighted Americans has increased from 25% to 41% of the population.

This subject has always fascinated me because I remember easily passing the eye test in the first grade and failing it in the second grade (after hitting a growth spurt).  In my early days of nutrition study I remember reading that Adelle Davis believed that nearsightedness was caused by a lack of minerals in the diet, leading to the inability of the shape of the eye to keep up with rapid growth.  This made sense to me, since my childhood diet lacked many minerals.  In fact, because of this I ensured all four of my children had plenty of minerals in their diets (both food and supplements) and all of them as adults have perfect vision.

There is a 1994 study that supports the idea that lacking minerals² may result in nearsightedness, especially in premature babies.  We now know that DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement. is needed for optimal eyesight development and too much homocysteine It is a homologue of the amino acid cysteine that is synthesized from methionine An essential amino acid which serves as a methyl donor and is involved with the biosynthesis of other nutrients. Improper conversion is associated with production of homocysteine and atherosclerosis. which requires adequate Folic Acid, B12, and B6 to function properly. Elevated levels have been associated with heart disease, thrombosis, strokes, Alzheimer's disease, and other disorders. (due to a lack of B vitamins) may also be a problem. 

While the nutritional science on this common and costly health problem is sparse, it is getting worse along with the deterioration of the quality of the American diet that is laden with mineral-lacking processed foods.  I don’t think there is any question that the significant jump in nearsighted Americans is a predictor of future disease risk due to woefully lacking nutrition during the key developmental time of life.  Conversely, good nutrition during pregnancy and the early years of a child’s life are likely to have a significant impact on eyesight as well as future health.