As school starts up in the next few weeks, more young children will head to the classroom with blurry vision.

Nearsightedness is increasing in kids at an alarming rate. The medical term is myopia, a condition in which people can see close objects clearly, but faraway objects, like a whiteboard across the classroom, are blurry.

The trend toward myopia decades in the making and worldwide, but it increased during the pandemic, which suggests more time on screens and less time outdoors might be part of the problem. With the rise in nearsightedness, there’s been a rush to develop treatments that can slow it down, including eye drops and special contact lenses.

Coming up at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, MPR News host Angela Davis talks about why today’s kids are growing up with worse vision than their parents and also eye health across our lives.

What common problems threaten our vision as we grow older and what are the treatments and habits that can keep our vision sharp as we age?   

And we want to hear from you, too.

Do you have a child who is nearsighted or being treated for nearsightedness? How was it diagnosed and how is it affecting their life? If you’re a teacher or someone else who works with young people, have you noticed an increase in nearsightedness? What questions about eye health and vision do you have for our guests?  

Call 651-227-6000 or 800-242-2828 during the 9 a.m. hour.  

Guests:  

• Dr. Mary Gregory is a board-certified optometrist based in Monticello, Minn., who specializes in children’s vision and learning.

• Dr. Derek Horkey is an ophthalmologist with St. Paul Eye Clinic who does comprehensive eye care for adults. He has additional expertise in treating glaucoma.

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.