Myopia, or nearsightedness, is generally assumed to be an irreversible, genetically determined condition that can only be ameliorated with corrective lenses or surgery. Its prevalence is 3040% in the U.S. and Europe, and more than 50% in some Asian countries, but it is rare in Africa and in preindustrial cultures. The incidence of myopia correlates with IQ, school achievement, and industrialization, suggesting that an environmental factor is at work—namely, nearwork. This talk will review the biology and epidemiology of myopia and present experimental evidence that myopia can be reversed naturally by specific focusing techniques and practices.

Abstracts and information about the Ancestral Health Symposium can be found at www.ancestralhealth.org/ahs14program.