Specs Could Soon Be History?

Researchers have discovered the shortsightedness gene, which could mean that need for spectacles, may be obviated. Researchers have been able to identify the variations in DNA that make people more susceptible to myopia.

It is expected that this could lead to the development of medications in the form of tablets, eye drops and so on, that could prevent the abnormal growth of the eyeball that is responsible for shortsightedness or myopia.

Myopia is an increasing trend that is seen as being closely associated with increasing urbanization and intensive education. While this is a problem in western societies, it is even more so in communities of the Far East. This is possibly because of technological use at early ages.

In Japan, two thirds of teens are shortsighted and in Singapore, 80% of 18 year old army recruits are short sighted as against 30 years ago, when only 25% of those were shortsighted.

There is known to be a strong genetic element that decides who will succumb to short sightedness and now a number of variations around the RASGRF1 gene, which is associated with eye growth, seemed to be strongly associated with myopia. These variations may be responsible for preventing or causing myopia.