Around 90% of Asian school leavers suffer from shortsightedness, with experts warning that China, Japan and South Korea are in the grip of a bad eyesight epidemic.
The reason? They work too hard, claim a team of scientists.
According to a report by the Australian National University published in The Lancet, shortsightedness (or myopia), is caused by intense periods of studying and poring over books – an activity encouraged among strict Asian ‘Tiger parents’.
Researchers claim that bad eyesight cannot be entirely blamed on genetics – referencing the biological link between glaucoma and Asian people discovered by the Philippine Glaucoma Society – as lifestyle factors may also be responsible.
The study pointed to the influence of the Asian education ethic that encourages children to push themselves to excel in their studies and extra curricular activities.
“The rise in myopia prevalence in urban east Asia might therefore be plausibly associated with the increasing intensity of education,” explains a researcher from the study.
“Moreover, east Asian countries with high myopia now dominate international rankings of educational performance.”
The higher prevalence of myopia in Asian cities has also been linked to an indoor lifestyle, as a greater exposure to natural sunlight can increase the eye’s protection against conditions such as myopia.
“The protective effect seems to be associated with total time outdoors, rather than with specific engagement in sport,” said the study's authors.
Experts also believe that eye conditions are the key to spotting underlying health issues.
Ophthalmologists can detect and diagnose a range of medical conditions - from eye diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma, to systematic illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and liver disease - just by looking at a person's retina.
Now, take a look and see what your eyea are trying to tell you…
What your Eyes Reveal About Your Health
Different Shaped Pupils (01 of10)
Open Image ModalThe pupils (the black circle in the centre of the eye) in normal people are usually symmetrical, the same size and react in the same way when exposed to sunlight. If one pupil is bigger or smaller than the other, there could be an underlying medical problem. Experts claim that differences in pupil size could indicate that the person is at a higher risk of having a stroke, brain or optic nerve tumour, or brain aneurysm. If you spot any changes to your pupils, raise this with your GP, optometrist or ophthalmologist. (credit:Alamy)
Dry Eyes (Sensitive To The Light)(02 of10)
Open Image ModalCloudy Eyes(03 of10)
Open Image ModalIf your eye is covered in a 'cloud' and your vision is impaired because of it, you may have a cataract. This causes a clouding of the lens inside the eye and can be corrected with surgery. This condition mainly occurs in older people but in younger people, it is commonly caused as a side effect of diabetes, tumours and some medication. (credit:MediaWiki)
Itchy Eyes (04 of10)
Open Image ModalGrey Rings(05 of10)
Open Image ModalEyebrow Disappearance(06 of10)
Open Image ModalAlthough it's natural for eyebrows to become thinner as we age, if you notice your brows literally 'disappearing' from the outer third of the eyebrow, this could signal a thyroid dysfunction. Loss of eyebrow hair from the outer edges of your face is a common sign of hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or hypothyroidism (under active thyroid). Thyroids help regulate the metabolism and thyroid hormones are vital for hair production. If in doubt, book an appointment with your GP. (credit:Alamy)
Watery Eyes(07 of10)
Open Image ModalLumpy Eyelids(08 of10)
Open Image ModalYellow lumps, also known, as xanthelasma palpebral, which appear on your eyelids could be a warning signal that your cholesterol levels are sky high. These are fatty deposits, which clump together and live in the eyelid. These are very often mistaken for a stye. Although these are quite common, it's best to get them checked by your optician or GP, as it can sometimes be an early sign of coronary artery disease. If you spot any coloured spots on your eyelids, in particular brown spots, visit your GP immediately as it could be an early sign of skin cancer. These usually appear on the lower part of the eyelid and will look a brownish colour with tiny blood vessels. (credit:Alamy)
Bloodshot Eyes(09 of10)
Open Image ModalIf your eyes are always blood-shot with broken blood vessels making them look blotchy and sore, this could be a sign that you have high blood pressure. Your optician will be able to confirm this by looking at your retina (the inner part of the eye). High blood pressure causes the blood vessel in the retina to 'kink and twist', causing them to break and look red. This could increase your risk of a stroke, so raise it with your GP as soon as possible. (credit:Alamy)
Yellow Tint (10 of10)
Open Image ModalIf the whites of your eyes have a yellow tint rather than pearly white, you may have jaundice, which is linked to various liver and gall bladder problems. A simple blood test will confirm this, so if you're in doubt, book an appointment with your GP. (credit:Alamy)