新奇事件簿 全球遇近视眼危机

Researchers predicted in a new report published in the journal¹ Opthalmology that by 2050, half of the world's population will be short-sighted. The medical term for this condition is myopia. It is also known as near-sightedness. It is when we have difficulty focusing on objects that are far away from us. The researchers say that around 4.8 billion people will suffer from myopia. This is a seven-fold increase in cases from 2000 to 2050. Sixty years ago, around 15 per cent of the Chinese population was short-sighted. Now, almost 90 per cent of Chinese teenagers and young adults have trouble seeing faraway objects. A recent survey found that up 95 per cent of teenagers in South Korea are near-sighted.

《美国眼科学杂志》发布最新报告，据研究人员预测，截止到2050年，全球将有半数人口患近视。近视的医学名词为“myopia”。也被人们称之为短视。症状为无法看清远处物体。据研究人员所说，约48亿人口将患近视。从2000年到2050年，全球近视人口预计将增长七倍。六年前，约15%的中国人口近视。如今，近90%青少年，年轻人受此困扰。近期研究发现，韩国青少年近视高达95%。

The researchers said they could not pinpoint² definite reasons for this phenomenon and say it could be a combination³ of factors. They did say that looking at computer screens and mobile⁴ phones could be a leading cause. Researchers said the sudden rise in myopia may be linked to "lifestyle changes resulting from a combination of decreased time outdoors and increased near-work activities". Science journalist Sarah Zhang said, "spending time outdoors, especially in early childhood, reduces the onset⁵ of myopia". Professor Kovin Naidoo, a co-author of the report, offered some advice. He said: "You could spend a long time reading computers and screens, but also spend two hours outdoors."

据研究人员表示，他们无法准确说明原因，有可能是各因素共同导致。电脑和手机很有可能是主因。研究人员认为，近视率的突然升高很有可能与生活方式改变有关，户外运动减少，长时间室内工作增加。科学记者萨拉·张表示：“增加户外活动能够预防近视，特别是儿童。”报告联合作者科温·奈杜教授推荐了几种建议。他认为：“你可以花时间看电脑，看屏幕，但还要花两个小时进行户外锻炼。”

1 journal   

n.日志，日记；议事录；日记帐；杂志，定期刊物

参考例句：

• He kept a journal during his visit to Japan.他在访问日本期间坚持记日记。
• He got a job as editor of a trade journal.他找到了一份当商业杂志编辑的工作。

2 pinpoint   

vt.准确地确定；用针标出…的精确位置

参考例句：

• It is difficult to pinpoint when water problems of the modern age began.很难准确地指出，现代用水的问题是什么时候出现的。
• I could pinpoint his precise location on a map.我能在地图上指明他的准确位置。

3 combination   

n.组合，合并，联合；

参考例句：

• He carried on the business in combination with his friends.他与朋友们合伙做生意。
• The materials can be used singly or in combination.这些材料可以单独使用也可以混合用。

4 mobile   

adj.可移动的，易变的，机动的；n.运动物体

参考例句：

• The old lady sits on a mobile chair every morning.那位老妇人每天上午坐在一把可携带使用的椅子上。
• She's much more mobile now that she's bought a car.自从她买了汽车后，活动量就大多了。

5 onset   

n.进攻，袭击，开始，突然开始

参考例句：

• The drug must be taken from the onset of the infection.这种药必须在感染的最初期就开始服用。
• Our troops withstood the onset of the enemy.我们的部队抵挡住了敌人的进攻。