Does excessive reading or near work cause myopia?
Many people believe this, but it is difficult to prove. We know heredity contributes to myopia (see above). But in any given person, it is hard to say how much myopia is due to heredity and how much to something else, like excessive close work. Even if reading tended to make myopia worse, few parents would want to discourage their child from reading. It is also not clear what it is about reading that might make myopia worse. If it were the effort of focusing up close, bifocals or reading glasses would be expected to help. Some studies do show a small benefit with bifocals. But at least one study suggests it might be the constant back and forth eye movement that is the culprit, in which case bifocals would not be expected to help. Can anything be done to prevent myopia from worsening? Some studies have shown that atropine, a long acting dilating drop, reduces the worsening of myopia over time. Treatment is not easy, though. The drop must be used daily in each eye. Bifocals with Photogre
