American Medical Association Backs Classification of Nearsightedness as Disease

The American Medical Association classified myopia as a disease and urged Medicare-Medicaid to fund progression-slowing treatments for children. It cited U.S. prevalence at 41.6% and WHO projections that half of the world could be nearsighted by 2050, noting risks such as retinal detachment and glaucoma. FDA-approved options include Stellest eyeglasses, multifocal soft contacts, orthokeratology lenses, low-dose atropine drops, and increased outdoor exposure.