Firstborn predisposed to nearsightedness

Recent findings published in JAMA Ophthalmology detail a possible link between birth order and the increased likelihood of developing myopia (nearsightedness). Children who are firstborn are more likely to become nearsighted. After evaluating 90,000 adults between the ages of 40 and 69, researchers discovered that those who were firstborn were almost 10 percent more likely to be nearsighted and 20 percent more likely to have high nearsightedness than their younger siblings. Researchers are uncertain as to why firstborn children would be more likely to become nearsighted. While there is no cure for myopia, researchers believe that parents can be proactive in either lessening the likelihood of their children developing it or delaying the onset of it. Encouraging children to spend more time outside and limiting time spent on electronic devices are recommended by the researchers.*