The report found that 47 million Americans aged 20 and older are myopic. The sharp rise is expected to continue impact vision quality as well as healthcare costs for many Americans, according to the AAO.
Billions of dollars are spent annually on glasses and contact lenses, and the majority of LASIK and related refractive surgical procedures in the United States are performed to correct myopia.
The AAO states that a clearer understanding of the factors driving this rise is needed so that appropriate measures can be taken.
Read the AAO release on the rise in myopia.
