In the concluding days of their eight-week bootcamp, numerous young Taiwanese conscripts are undergoing evaluations on an obstacle course. Clad in full combat gear, they crawl beneath rows of razor wire and navigate through bunkers as controlled explosions send plumes of dirt into the air. In a simulated gas attack, pink and green smoke billows, prompting the conscripts to swiftly put on gas masks before advancing into the zone. However, many pause during the drill to take off their glasses, taking valuable seconds to ensure the masks fit properly. The conscripts appear to be mostly in their early 20s, and statistics indicate that up to 90% of them may have some level of myopia, commonly known as shortsightedness.
Taiwan has one of the highest myopia rates globally, alongside much of East Asia and Singapore. The prevalence is evident not only among the soldiers wearing glasses but also in the abundance of optometry shops. In Taipei alone, there are over 40 locations of a chain that tests eyesight and produces prescription eyewear on-site within an hour. Laser eye surgeons promote advanced technology at relatively low costs, catering to a steady stream of patients daily. At hospitals in Taiwan, instead of pens attached to the front desk, one might find a pair of glasses.
“Once myopia begins, its progression is rapid,” states Dr. Wu Pei-chang, a prominent Taiwanese researcher and director of the Myopia Treatment and Prevention Center at Kaohsiung Hospital. Myopia is a preventable condition characterized by the abnormal elongation of the eyeball, causing light to focus in front of the retina rather than on its surface. The severity is measured in diopters, with high myopia (beyond -5.00 diopters) posing a risk of blindness if untreated. The critical period for intervention is during childhood when the eyes are still developing.
For decades, myopia was thought to be primarily genetic, but the dramatic rise in rates in East Asian countries during the 1960s and 70s, coinciding with significant economic and educational growth, challenged that notion. By the 1990s, myopia rates in Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Singapore surged from around 20% to over 80%. China, initially lagging due to the Cultural Revolution, soon followed suit.
Governments conducted extensive studies on this trend, which ultimately revealed a straightforward connection. Myopia is now recognized as being associated with excessive “near work,” such as reading, studying, and computer use. Recent research has also highlighted that increased outdoor activity serves as a vital protective factor. This is why scientists attribute the high rates of myopia in East Asia and Singapore to cultural emphasis on academic achievement.
