Recent research shows that myopia, once thought to be confined largely to East Asia, is now spreading rapidly across Europe. Three separate studies estimate that roughly a quarter of the European population require glasses or contact lenses, while in several nations the proportion of young adults approaches fifty percent.

Rising Prevalence

Data from Erasmus University Medical Center indicate that the share of Dutch people with myopia has more than doubled over the past hundred years. Neighbouring countries display a comparable upward trend, and in parts of Sweden and Russia adult myopia rates are close to fifty percent.

Health Implications

Myopia occurs when the eye grows too long, causing distant objects to appear out of focus. Although vision can be corrected with spectacles, contact lenses or refractive surgery, the condition carries long‑term health risks. More than three percent of Europeans already have high myopia, a form that markedly raises the likelihood of glaucoma, cataracts and retinal detachment. Experts estimate that about one in three myopic individuals will develop severe visual impairment by the age of seventy‑five, a development that could reduce productivity and place additional strain on national health budgets.

Causes and Risk Factors

Increased near‑work activities such as the use of smartphones, tablets, laptops and prolonged reading of printed material are identified as major drivers of the rise. Prolonged close‑up work signals the eye to elongate, especially during childhood and adolescence, making the change permanent if it occurs during critical growth years. Reduced exposure to natural daylight is another key factor; modern schooling practices and urban lifestyles keep children indoors for much of the day. Studies also link higher academic pressure and less recess time with higher myopia prevalence, a pattern that continues into higher education.

Policy Gaps and Recommendations

Public health systems often do not fully cover the cost of glasses and routine eye examinations, leaving families to shoulder the expense. A recent Dutch survey found that sixteen percent of parents cannot afford glasses for their children. Only a few European countries have launched specific myopia‑prevention programmes, and these mainly focus on screening. There is currently no Europe‑wide strategy to address the condition.

Leading ophthalmologists call for a coordinated European response. Recommendations include earlier and more frequent school vision screenings, public information campaigns and financial assistance for corrective lenses or medication that can slow progression. Increasing outdoor time for children is highlighted as the simplest preventive measure. Policies that protect schoolyard areas, limit classroom screen use and promote outdoor activities could deliver benefits without large costs. Finland, with a myopia prevalence of 11.9 percent, attributes its lower rates to a strong focus on outdoor play in early childhood education.

The European Commission’s health strategy, which aims to reduce health inequalities and strengthen preventive care, could incorporate a myopia‑prevention framework. While technology industry representatives argue that digital devices are essential for education and that blue‑light filters and ergonomic designs can mitigate risks, critics contend that such fixes address symptoms rather than the underlying behavioural causes.