That wasn't my intention, although I imagine they do play a role.

The human eye (specifically the ciliary muscles) are most at "rest" when staring at objects in the distance.

The human eye doesn't seem to be as well-suited for staring at distance less than ~20 feet for long periods of time.

I imagine learning how to read and write in general, the shift from an agrarian society to cognitive labor, and the invention of glasses all were just as important factors.

Myopia is also correlated with spending less time outdoors.

Your theory about 20 ft is literally correct.

Atropine is successfully used to relax the cilliary muscles.

However, there is lots of anecdata that rigid contacts don’t make your eyesight worse over time.

Interesting, why would rigid contacts lead to less degradation?

just guesses, because they are so infrequently worn these days, is that it somehow prevents eyeball deformation due to its rigidity and so the axial elongation does not occur.

I'm a little sceptical about that theory, but my own rx did not go increase much when I wore RGPs. After that I did have some progression, but also a million other things changed, so who knows.

RGPs however, are quite distinct in that they give absolutely perfect vision. better than soft contacts by a mile. Maybe some refractive thing as well, optometrist told me numerous times under-correction would lead to further progression.

Ortho-K is popular in Asia for prevention, those are rigid lenses worn at night. Deforms cornea a little, so it's like a reversible lasik thing. So, in this case, not only its rigid lenses, they also have weird geometry. Many report significant success.

People whould wear reading glasses even before myopia. And when they do get myopia, they should NOT wear prescribed glass while reading/working, but a reading glasses that factor in their myopia.

I dont understand why people especially shortsighted people still use the same glasses for everything. Why don't octometrists know better?

People wear the same glasses for everything because it is hard remembering where your glasses are, carrying them around, and swapping back and forth every couple seconds.

Its a horrible user experience

That's hyperbole, you only need to wear a working pair 9 to 5 at your desk and a normal pair the rest of the time.

You only look at things relatively close to you from 9 to 5? You don't have computers or TVs at home? A smartphone? Cooking instructions?

It's not a hyperbole, glasses are massively inconvenient to those of us handicapped without, and having to hot-swap then depending on subject is massively more inconvenient.

It's hyperbole because you consistently ignore the fact that eyes can change focus for the short term, that's like the one thing they do. It's straining your eyes for long periods, at the same focal point, such as while working, that we need to help with.

PS: you are right, maybe instead of only at the desk, just wear a "near sight" pair all the time, when you're indoor, and a far sight pair when you are out. Point is you dont have to hot swap.

This significantly underestimates the eye strain from using the wrong glasses or no glasses. "Long periods" is minutes in my case.

And yes, most will just use short-range glasses all day as their only pair, which is exactly the thing you insisted that you did not understand ("I dont understand why people especially shortsighted people still use the same glasses for everything. Why don't octometrists know better?").

Sometimes it might make sense to just ask those with the handicap rather than make baseless assumptions about their situation as an "outsider".

Well I have -2 diopters glasses for myopia, started wearing them around the age of 30 I think (I am now 44). I never use them when reading, effectively they bother me. But have to use them when using the computer monitor, otherwise it's either blurry or have to get too close for comfort. It's a continuous "put the glasses" when looking at the screen, take the glasses when scribbling a paper or reading a book / phone. Got used to it.

Also don't use them while walking, they bother me. I feel like my eyes dry out or something, very unpleasant. It's a bit blurry but don't really notice it, also -2 is not really advanced myopia. I can't read car plates from the distance but I sure see the car coming and know not to bump into people.

> I dont understand why people especially shortsighted people still use the same glasses for everything.

Bad UX for switching, and my "reading" glasses have too short of a clear vision range to use at my computer without having to lean in.

I'm not terribly short sighted but also can't see clearly further than about 20cm. I have to use them for everything. I think far sighted people tend to have a more usable range of functioning vision left.

Why do I need glasses for reading if I'm nearsighted? Unless you mean "ignores" nearsightedness and corrects astigmatism only? (Those are what I use for computer use, when I bother to wear them.)

I don't mean literal reading glasses, just apply the same principle: glasses designated to a task, which for most people would be using computer. All prescription glasses are for your "resting" vision to be on far objects. You'd want the resting vision to be on the computer.

That's just not how it works.

Really useful comment, what is "that" and how is "that" wrong?

Parent is confusing a focal point with where your eyes are focusing. Your vision gets corrected entirely, not just for certain focal lengths.

It's just a comment that so wrong it's not wrong.

My vision gets corrected entirely, that doesn't mean that there isn't a focal lenght at which my eyes are most comfortable.

Prescription glasses restore your range of focus to original which is why I said it aims for looking at far objects, at relaxed eyes.

Problem with myopia is that you overwork your eyes' muscles by staying in close focal lengths too long.

If you are myopic, you are not supposed to wear glasses for reading, but most people I know do this, which just worsens it. You are supposed to be without them for as long as you can.

Yes that is if you are not advanced. One you are no longer able to read without glasses you should have a differrent prescription just for computer/reading

There are reading glasses for short-sightedness? I just take my glasses off, and everything is just perfectly in focus.

That may change past the age of 40 or so.

> Are you implying that cell phones could be a factor?

And books, too.