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Researchers predicted in athe new report published in athe journal Opthalmology that by 2050, half of athe world's population will be short-sighted. The medical term for this condition is myopia. It is also known as near-sightedness. It is when we have difficulty focusing on objects that are far away from us. athe researchers say that around 4.8 billion people will suffer from myopia. This is athe seven-fold increase in cases from 2000 to 2050. Sixty years ago, around 15 per cent of athe Chinese population was short-sighted. Now, almost 90 per cent of Chinese teenagers and young adults have trouble seeing faraway objects. athe recent survey found that up to 95 per cent of teenagers in South Korea are near-sighted.

athe researchers said they could not pinpoint definite reasons for this phenomenon and say it could be athe combination of factors. They did say that looking at computer screens and mobile phones could be athe leading cause. Researchers said athe sudden rise in myopia may be linked to "lifestyle changes resulting from athe combination of decreased time outdoors and increased near-work activities". Science journalist Sarah Zhang said, "spending time outdoors, especially in early childhood, reduces athe onset of myopia". Professor Kovin Naidoo, athe co-author of athe report, offered some advice. He said: "You could spend athe long time reading computers and screens, but also spend two hours outdoors."