Half of the world’s population may soon be in need of glasses. According to a troubling recent study, scientists are predicting that by 2050, close to five billion people will be nearsighted. The study also predicts an increase in severe myopia, which can lead to blindness.

　　世界上一半的人在不久的将来需要佩戴眼镜。最近，一个令人不安的研究显示，科学家预计2050年将有接近50亿的人患近视。该研究还预计高度近视人数也会增加，高度近视极易导致失明。

　　According to EurekAlert!, a sevenfold increase in nearsightedness is predicted from 2000 to 2050, and up to one in 10 people around the globe may eventually be at risk for blindness. Scientists aren’t sure what is causing such extreme increases in nearsightedness, though they believe environmental factors are likely the culprit.

　　据EurekAlert网站(美国科学促进会主办的全球互联网新闻服务)报道，从2000年到2050年，患近视人数将增长7倍，世界各地的人中每十个就有一个将最终面临失明的风险。科学家们不确定是什么原因导致近视人数剧增，但他们认为环境因素可能是罪魁祸首。

　　Scientists are working on pinpointing the exact causes of, and possible cures for, myopia. So far, they know that light plays an important role in eye development, and that by depriving developing eyes of light, they can induce myopia in animals.

　　科学家们正致力于找出近视的确切原因以及可能的治疗方法。到目前为止，他们知道光在眼睛发育过程中发挥重要作用，通过阻碍动物眼睛发育过程中摄入的光，可以诱导动物近视。

　　Unfortunately, exposure to bright light doesn’t reverse myopia in all cases, and the technique hasn't been tested on human subjects. In general, it’s difficult for scientists to pinpoint the exact causes of human myopia, and therefore its cure, since human testing usually isn’t possible.

　　不幸的是，并非在所有情况下暴露于明亮的灯光中都能逆转近视，且这项技术还没有在人体上进行试验。一般情况下，科学家们很难找到人类近视的确切原因，因而很难发现治愈方法，而且人体试验通常不太可能实现。

　　But studies have found a general link between spending time outdoors as a kid and reduced risk of myopia. Until a cure is found, scientists are recommending more frequent trips to the optometrist for risk assessments. It may also be a good idea to reduce screen time and make enjoying the great outdoors a higher priority.

　　但研究发现了孩童时期在户外所花费的时间和降低近视风险之间的一般联系。在找到治愈近视的方法之前，科学家建议人们经常去找验光师做视力风险评估。减少对着屏幕的时间，多进行户外活动也是极好的。

（编辑：何莹莹）