A LASIK patient from San Luis Obispo who loves her crisp new vision after her laser vision correction eye surgery recently asked me why some people grow up to become nearsighted in the first place — while others do not. This is a great question! Some researchers feel that genetics are the main determinant of who develops myopia (nearsightedness). Other researchers have tied a lower chance of developing nearsightedness to increased time spent outdoors as a child. A new study reviewed 1,075 children in Hong Kong with an average age of 9.95 years. The study found that children who grew up in neighborhoods with higher population density and also children who grew up in smaller homes had a greater chance of becoming nearsighted. The authors concluded, ““A constricted living space may be an environmental threat for myopia development in children.” This study adds to our understanding of why certain people grow up to be nearsighted while others do not. The good news, of course, is that LASIK and PRK provide excellent options for correcting nearsightedness!