Myopia is on the rise worldwide, and screen time is often blamed. But new research from researchers at the SUNY College of Optometry suggests that the real factor may be a combination of prolonged focusing on close objects and poor indoor lighting. When focusing on close objects in dim light, the pupils constrict, reducing the amount of light reaching the retina. This mechanism can induce changes leading to the development of myopia. Poor indoor light, together with screens, strain the eyes and contribute to the myopia epidemic.