Evolutionary approach to the formation of myopia: the restructuring of the visual analyzer as an adaptation to the social and cultural conditions

Myopia is one of the most common diseases of our time, phylo- and ontogenetically closely related to the school education system. Based on a review of theoretical and experimental studies, we explored the possible mechanisms of changes in the visual analyzer, occurring as an adaptation to the social and cultural conditions, and leading to the occurrence of myopia. We describe the relationship of physiological and behavioral factors that may lead to loss of vision. We propose the contribution to the formation of myopia of the visual analyzer restructuring associated with the selection of the information in accordance with the proposed models in the social environment; with a reduction in its own search activity during amplification; with the strengthening of the internal functioning of the systems of information processing and reduction: systems of perception and action implementation.

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