Myopia Myth

Myopia Myth is a term coined by myopia prevention proponent, Donald S. Rehm, in the controversial book, The Myopia Myth to describe what he claims is the "misconception" that myopia in inherited. Rehm's theory of myopia as an acquired condition due to close work is not commonly accepted by the main stream eye care industry. However, it has the verification of various smaller medical studies, many of which are not highly conclusive on Rehm's theory. Due to the availability of some research data suggesting the environmental causes of myopia this article is not Pseudoscience but an inadequately tested "alternative theoretical formulation." It must be clear that the limited evidence that exists is inconclusive to classify "acquired myopia theory" under Scientific consensus. Furthermore, Donald Rehm's book and theory is strongly critical and Anti-establishment of standard optometric practice. For mains stream views on myopia, please see Myopia.
Rehm's Book
Book Overview: The Myopia Myth book details the many sides on the debate over myopia cause and prevention.
Overview of the concept: Donald Rehm asserts in the book that the general public "falsely" holds the "myth" that nearsightedness is inherited and will arise in certain individuals due to congenital defects and heredity. Rehm proposes instead that nearsightedness is caused by excessive use of our eyes to do close visual work.
The book asserts that myopia is not inherited by citing various studies and statistics. It also used diagrams and some demonstrations (pinhole, convex lenses, parallex, etc) to "show" how the eye works and "how" myopia develops. The book dismisses heredity as the caause of myopia and suggests simple prevention measures a person can take. Rehm is dismissive of other methods such as the Bates method.
The Controversial Proposed Theory of Environmental Factor(s) Caused myopia: The theory asserted in the book on Myopia Myth would explain the sharp increase in rates of myopic people in the last century. However, this empirical observation is at best a theory as correlation does not imply causation and many other factors surrounding our lifestyle has changed drastically in the last century (diets, sleeping habits, daily stress levels etc). Also, the reporting of and recording of cases of myopia has presumably improved. Therefore, the 1800s statistics used may suffer from under coverage bias as people with light to moderate myopia were not diagnosed.
Support for the theory in the Book Rehm uses numerous scientific studies to show that most cases of myopia are caused by close focusing (like reading) and the condition can thus be prevented. This alternative theory has being criticized due to the lack of large scale clinical trials.
Criticisms
Some critical reviews and responses disagree on the most basic ideas presented by the book.
WebMD has an article on Myopia Prevevention and states that Myopia is caused by "too much close work".
Another line of criticism draws on that closework may causes Pseudomyopia, which has similar symptom of blurred distance vision as Myopia but Pseudomyopia is temporary.
Rehm promotes the use of, and markets pinhole glasses, the clinical benefits of which are controversial and the use of which is potentially dangerous from a health and safety perspective.
Support for the book's theory
The environmentally-caused myopia theory in the book is indpendendently partially partially by the eyecare trade organization of American Optometric Association which have stated on it's official site that the evidences suggesting environmental cause of myopia is strong. AOA has not cited the studies that lead to their position and the AOA's official site has not made any statements regarding using reading glasses as a preventative measure (a preventative method Rehm encourages in his book).
An investigative article published by the New York Times concluded that close focusing and heredity both are contributing factors in myopia developement
New reserach supported articles have also arisen that follow The American Journal of Human Genetics (vol 75, p 294)</ref>
See Also
*Preventive medicine
*List of controversial non-fiction books

Main Menu