Department of Ophthalmology
Centre for Eye Research Australia

A double take on wearing glasses

Associate Professor Paul Baird with Eva and Lydia Photo courtesy of The University of Melbourne

A new study investigating personality factors linked to myopia has challenged the stereotype that people who wear glasses are introverted.

The study, conducted by the Centre for Eye Research Australia and the University of Melbourne’s School of Behavioural Science, found that people who wear glasses are more likely to be agreeable and open, rather than closed and introverted.

Assoc Prof Paul Baird from the Centre’s Ocular Genetics Unit says the study was the world’s largest investigation of factors linked to myopia, or short-sightedness.

“Utilising the Australian Twin Registry we examined 633 twins and a comparative group of 278 family members over a four year period. Participants were analysed against the five major personality traits: openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and neuroticism,” Assoc Prof Baird says.

“We found no link between myopia and introversion. There was however a small link between myopia and agreeableness as well as with openness.”

Myopia is a complex eye condition that affects about one in four Australians. Commonly, myopia typically begins to develop in childhood/teenage years although it may develop later.

Assoc Prof Baird says the research has important social implications.

“People, particularly children, can now wear glasses according to good eye care practice, without any preconceived notion that they are more or less introverted than people who do not wear glasses.”

The study was published in a recent edition of the international eye health journal ‘Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science,’ and represented one of a series of investigations to identify factors involved in myopia. The other elements included environmental and genetic factors.

The Centre for Eye Research Australia recommends people experiencing symptoms of myopia consult an eye specialist such as an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

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