‘The more educated you are, the more chance of specs’
BEING highly educated really is linked to wearing specs, a study found.
Super smart TV characters, such as Brains in Thunderbirds, are traditionally portrayed as short-sighted, or myopic, often in big thick glasses.
Myopia is a leading cause of visual impairment. Currently it affects 30 to 50% of adults in Europe and the US. Nearly half of humans will be short-sighted by 2050. Researchers at the universities of Bristol and Cardiff looked at data from 67,798 British adults and allowed for genetic factors. Dr Denize Atan, of Bristol, said: “This study shows exposure to more years in education contributes to rising prevalence of myopia.” He said time spent outdoors in childhood may partly protect against short-sightedness. The survey was published in the British Medical Journal.