# Civilization causes myopia?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civilization-causes-myopia/1210
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
**Created:** [April 10, 2000, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civilization-causes-myopia/1210 "2000-04-10T06:31:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@tiki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiki)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2000, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civilization-causes-myopia/1210/1 "2000-04-10T06:31:00Z")
In the column asking about bad vision caused by sitting too close to a TV or reading in dim light: [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5\_105.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_105.html)
It was mentioned that some people have suggested that there is something about civilization that causes nearsightedness, and an eskimo population study was brought up. I realize that the study was called into question for not being random, but there are other options. It ocurred to me that prior to modernization, those with myopia might not live as long as those without. As my wife is fond of saying, with no glasses around, she would have been eaten by a sabretooth while she was young. Note that the 59+population segment had 0% myopia in the study.
Just my $0.02!
-Tiki
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### Author:  [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2000, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civilization-causes-myopia/1210/2 "2000-04-10T18:00:00Z")
This is a comment on Cecil’s column, and therefore is being moved to the forum called (appropriately enough) COMMENTS ON CECIL’S COLUMNS.
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### Author:  [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2000, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civilization-causes-myopia/1210/3 "2000-04-11T23:12:00Z")
A May 1999 study indicated that keeping a nightlight on during infancy can cause nearsightedness, and this was offered as an explanation of why modern life seems to increase the chances of being nearsighted. A later study contradicted it, though- [http://my.webmd.com/content/article/1728.55536](http://my.webmd.com/content/article/1728.55536)
Arjuna34