

A study published in Cell Reports in 2026 proposes a new hypothesis about the mechanisms behind myopia: it may not be screens themselves that drive its development, but rather the reduction in light reaching the retina during prolonged near work in poorly lit indoor environments. Researchers at SUNY College of Optometry (New York) show that pupil constriction linked to accommodation — the natural reflex that makes nearby images sharp — is more pronounced in myopes, further reducing retinal illumination.