Researchers predicted in a new report published in the journal Opthalmology that by 2050, half of the world's population will be short-sighted. The medical term for this condition is myopia. It is also known as near-sightedness. It is when we have difficulty focusing on objects that are far away from us. The researchers say that around 4.8 billion people will suffer from myopia. This is a seven-fold increase in cases from 2000 to 2050. Sixty years ago, around 15 per cent of the Chinese population was short-sighted. Now, almost 90 per cent of Chinese teenagers and young adults have trouble seeing faraway objects. A recent survey found that up 95 per cent of teenagers in South Korea are near-sighted.

《美国眼科学杂志》发布最新报告，据研究人员预测，截止到2050年，全球将有半数人口患近视。近视的医学名词为“myopia”。也被人们称之为短视。症状为无法看清远处物体。据研究人员所说，约48亿人口将患近视。从2000年到2050年，全球近视人口预计将增长七倍。六年前，约15%的中国人口近视。如今，近90%青少年，年轻人受此困扰。近期研究发现，韩国青少年近视高达95%。

The researchers said they could not pinpoint definite reasons for this phenomenon and say it could be a combination of factors. They did say that looking at computer screens and mobile phones could be a leading cause. Researchers said the sudden rise in myopia may be linked to "lifestyle changes resulting from a combination of decreased time outdoors and increased near-work activities". Science journalist Sarah Zhang said, "spending time outdoors, especially in early childhood, reduces the onset of myopia". Professor Kovin Naidoo, a co-author of the report, offered some advice. He said: "You could spend a long time reading computers and screens, but also spend two hours outdoors."

据研究人员表示，他们无法准确说明原因，有可能是各因素共同导致。电脑和手机很有可能是主因。研究人员认为，近视率的突然升高很有可能与生活方式改变有关，户外运动减少，长时间室内工作增加。科学记者萨拉·张表示：“增加户外活动能够预防近视，特别是儿童。”报告联合作者科温·奈杜教授推荐了几种建议。他认为：“你可以花时间看电脑，看屏幕，但还要花两个小时进行户外锻炼。”