Myopia Prevention Efforts in Japan Highlighted by New Cost-of-Illness Study

A new peer-reviewed cost-of-illness study, accepted for publication in the Journal of Global Health Economics and Policy, estimates that the annual burden of myopia in Japan currently stands at approximately ¥4 trillion, equivalent to about 0.64% of the country's GDP. Projections indicate this annual burden could rise to between ¥7 trillion and ¥11 trillion by 2050, primarily due to lost productivity. The research underscores the significant, long-term economic impact of myopia on human capital beyond direct healthcare costs.