UAE, July 28 -- Children's eyesight is under growing pressure, and the numbers tell the story. Globally, myopia (near-sightedness) already affects around 30% of people, and researchers project that by 2050 nearly half the world's population will be short-sighted. Myopia usually begins in school-age children and tends to worsen through the teenage years.

The UAE reflects this trend. Studies of schoolchildren across the Emirates have reported myopia rates from about 12% in some regions to higher figures elsewhere, and clinicians here note that progression among children is speeding up. Much of it is lifestyle-driven: long hours focused on screens and books up close, and less time outdoors under natural light. Focusing on near objects for e...