Why is it a look of clever people wear glasses?

[adamandeta]

I’ve noticed time and time again that if you get a group of highly academic people, about three quarters of them are wearing glasses. Just got me wondering, is there a link?

There is a link to reading a lot or using a conputer a lot and developing short sightedness (iirc). Something to do with not being outside enough.

Perhaps also they can't be bothered with contacts?

There is a link to it. Let me see if l can find it.

Definitely linked to screen usage and reading. Although I don't think it has anything to with being inside/outside as I soend lots of time outside. I have noticed my eyes deteriorate massively though since lockdown and being on computers for every meeting. And I can't wear contacts due to dry eyes (also they are quite expensive in comparison once you start having additional drops and special lenses).

www.ramsayhealth.co.uk/about/latest-news/poor-eyesight-linked-to-intelligence

At least partly to do with age, I think. 40+ and eyesight does deteriorate, with a need for readers. Unless you’re hanging out with a lot of 20 something academics.

I’m actually thinking about clever kids at my dcs school. They often put posts on their school Facebook page and with things like maths challenges or physics awards etc most of them are wearing glasses. These dc have been wearing glasses since they were little so probably not linked to screen time.

I think it’s a stereotype propagated by cartoons, tv and films.

In children, short sightedness is probably more likely to be picked up if the child is quite academic and mentions symptoms (unable to read the board properly, headaches when reading etc) or in families where the parents wear glasses so take them for eye tests. There are probably plenty of kids with mild eyesight problems who don't wear glasses because no one has ever noticed and/or taken them to get eyes checked as a preventative measure.

I think there is some truth in this.

I was very academic - always had my head in a book and got straight As all through school etc. I was found to be short sighted at 4 because I came home in tears one day upset I couldn’t read what the teacher was writing on the blackboard 😳😆 I am now -9.50 in both eyes at 42 and I can’t wear contact lenses due to other eye issues so I wear my glasses all the time now. I’ve learnt to accept them but because of my prescription they make my eyes look tiny!

My dd was found to need glasses aged 14 purely by accident really. She is quite sporty and not really bookish like me. When the optician said she needed glasses and was a -2.50 both dd and I were shocked as I think she’d just got used to having eye sight that was a little bit off, she wasn’t bothered about reading like I was!

Studies show that there is a link between short sightedness and IQ. Probably due to a mixture of genetics and environment.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19127804/

There's also a correlation between height and IQ and head size and IQ. At university I had a fanatastic lecturer on intelligence. He was tall, wore glasses and smugly pointed out these correlations.

No it really is. My DC just got myopia control glasses in the hope that their eyesight won't end up as bad as mine (-13.5) and they came with the instructions to also spend at least two hours outside everyday.

I need glasses to read. I'd probably have them on quite a lot if my job involved reading, research etc. as it stands, I'm constantly in glasses because of a kindle addiction so I guess my reading books in every spare minute could make me look like a smarty pants.

Poor eyesight linked to intelligence? Doesn't explain why I wear glasses!!!!!