The researchers have identified a new gene that causes myopia or short-sightedness. Through this discovery, it will now be possible to come up with a new treatment technique for myopia.

People who suffer from myopia are not able to see far off things, because the focal point of an image is formed just short of the retina at the back of the eye, which causes blurred-distance vision.

The scientists at the King’s College London have named the newly discovered gene as RASGRF1.

This gene is thought to have an important role in the development of the eye and is found to be responsible for transmitting the visual signals to the brain for processing.

It is worth mentioning that in the United Kingdom almost one-third of people suffer from short-sightedness. Almost two-thirds of young children in Japan are already suffering from myopia. In Singapore, 80% of 18-year-old male who are appointed in the army are myopic.

The scientists are hopeful that in the coming 10 years, a drug will be made, which will be used to prevent short-sightedness and the people will no longer depend on glasses.

In order to identify the gene, the researchers took the DNA samples of as many as 4,000 British twins. The study was further established by analyzing the genetics of another 13,000 British, Dutch, and Australian people.