Harvard and Stanford alumnus Thomas Chalberg is the executive chairman of iRenix in Palo Alto, California. Heavily involved in initiatives focused on improving eyesight, Thomas “Tom” Chalberg celebrated Myopia Awareness Week by encouraging people to have their vision tested.

1. Raising Awareness of
Myopia, an Epidemic in
the Making
Thomas Chalberg

2. Introduction
 Harvard and Stanford alumnus Thomas Chalberg is the executive
chairman of iRenix in Palo Alto, California. Heavily involved in initiatives
focused on improving eyesight, Thomas “Tom” Chalberg celebrated
Myopia Awareness Week by encouraging people to have their vision
tested.
The 2019 Myopia Awareness Week ran from May 13 to May 19.
Established through the joint efforts of the World Council of Optometry
and Brien Holden Vision Institute, the weeklong campaign raised
awareness of myopia (nearsightedness), jumpstarting caregivers into
taking appropriate action to safeguard the eyesight of their children.
The campaign also sought to change optometrists’ understanding of
myopia and how to treat it.

3. Myopia
 Myopia is caused by excessive lengthening of the eye, from front to
back, such that its lens cannot focus images on the light-sensitive
retina at the back of the eye. Rather, images are focused in front of
the retina so that persons affected see near objects well but far
away objects appear blurry.
It is projected that by 2050, 50 percent of the world will be myopic.
Modern environmental stimuli like artificial lighting, electronic
devices, and indoor living are to blame for this myopia explosion.
Myopia Awareness Week encouraged caregivers to take action to
improve the vision of their children, saving them from myopia and
its related effects.