Myopia has a large genetic component, but genetics cannot explain the recent rapid increase in myopia, so there must be a pretty strong environmental component as well.
But we're only just beginning to understand what that environmental component might be. As others have mentioned, studies from Singapore have found that time spent outdoors matters more than close work. (And close work might not matter much at all).
Nobody is yet able to predict how myopic a specific person will be.
However, it might be sensible to start testing babies for the genes that influence myopia, so that we know to take extra care of the environmental factors for those children. Holding school classes outdoors, where the climate permits, would be a pretty low cost intervention. Actually, why not do that for everyone?
But we're only just beginning to understand what that environmental component might be. As others have mentioned, studies from Singapore have found that time spent outdoors matters more than close work. (And close work might not matter much at all).
Nobody is yet able to predict how myopic a specific person will be.
However, it might be sensible to start testing babies for the genes that influence myopia, so that we know to take extra care of the environmental factors for those children. Holding school classes outdoors, where the climate permits, would be a pretty low cost intervention. Actually, why not do that for everyone?