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I've heard it said very often: Using a computer/smartphone can make you nearsighted.

Is it true? Is there good research on the topic?

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maybe you've been using computers so much you can't see the evidence? :) – jwenting Feb 21 at 13:46
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Yes, it can, just as much as reading or any other activity where you're looking at something close to your eyes.

"Optometric Clinical Practice Guidline: Care Of The Patient With Myopia":

Doing a substantial amount of near work on a regular basis can increase the risk for myopia. Myopia is associated with greater time spent reading and doing near work, better reading test scores, more years of education, occupations that require a great deal of near work, and greater academic ability

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Does "increase the risk" really support an unqualified "Yes"? I mean, it certainly supports a positive answer, but it is not indicative of a direct causative process, is it? – dmckee Feb 21 at 17:48
@dmckee: well he is saying that yes, it can make you short-sighted not that it will make you short-sighted. Essentially, it's a risk factor. – nico Feb 21 at 23:46
This assumes normal vision. What if you already have hyperopia (are farsighted)? – Sam I Am Feb 22 at 0:59
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