To study change in the prevalence of myopia in Finland during the 20th century.
A review of the literature on the prevalence of myopia in Finland.
During the 20th century, the prevalence of myopia among 7- to 8-year-old schoolchildren did not increase in Finland and varied between 0.5% and 1.9%. Among 14- to 15-year-old school children, myopia doubled to about 21%. Among adults born during the first three decades of the 20th century, the prevalence of myopia was