The Traitors presenter Claudia Winkleman is among the one in three people in the UK living with myopia, or short-sightedness, a condition that an ophthalmic surgeon warns is on the rise and could affect nearly five billion people globally by 2050.
Myopia occurs when the eyeball becomes too long or the cornea is overly curved, causing light to focus in front of the retina rather than on it, according to the NHS. It typically develops in childhood and can be corrected with spectacles, contact lenses, or in some cases laser surgery.
Winkleman's struggles with the condition
The 54-year-old has spoken candidly about how the condition affects her daily life, revealing it has caused her to bump into walls, prevented her from driving, and made reading difficult. Despite undergoing two surgical procedures to correct her vision, she has admitted that some challenges remain, particularly with reading.
In 2021, Winkleman told The Sun: "I can't even begin to tell you how blind I am. It's embarrassing. I can't read the autocue. My eyes have deteriorated so badly, I'm not meant to drive. I am doing the wrong job."
The presenter has found ways to continue her career by relying on specially adapted spectacles and lenses, enlarged autocue text, and memorising material.
Rising cases among children
Mr Mfazo Hove, a consultant ophthalmic surgeon and founder of Blue Fin Vision, said short-sightedness is becoming more common, particularly among children in the UK. He explained that while the main symptom is the same at any age, children may not complain because they assume everyone sees the way they do.
"These include squinting, sitting very close to the TV, holding a tablet near the face, or losing interest in the board at school or in ball sports. Eye rubbing and headaches can also occur, although they have many other causes," he added.
In children, myopia tends to worsen as the eye continues to elongate. "The earlier it starts, the higher it usually ends up. Higher myopia carries a greater lifetime risk of retinal detachment, myopic macular degeneration and glaucoma," he cautioned.
Global burden and prevention
Mr Hove highlighted the "growing burden" of myopia among adults. Approximately a quarter of the world's population was short-sighted in 2000, with forecasts suggesting this could rise to roughly half of all people by 2050. "Much of this reflects short-sighted children growing into short-sighted adults, because myopia that starts in childhood does not go away," he explained.
Moorfields Eye Hospital recommends spending at least two hours outdoors daily, keeping books and devices more than 35cm from the eyes, using specialist lenses such as MiYOSMART and Stellest, and considering low-dose atropine drops to slow progression in children.
