Nearsightedness rate has significantly increased

Our world may be getting smaller after all — at least what we can see of it.

Over 30 years, the rate of nearsightedness has increased by two-thirds in the U.S., says Susan Vitale, epidemiologist at the National Eye Institute. No one's sure what to blame, though some speculate focusing on small objects close-up, like words on a handheld device, and being inside too much might contribute.

Gazing into the distance is easier on the eyes than focusing on tiny words, says Dr. Fay Woo, a highly rated ophthalmologist in Baton Rouge, La.