Do geeks really wear glasses?

Who knew? People who wear glasses are not stereotypical geeks or nerds. At least according to a study released today by Australian vision researchers.

The scientists claim this is the first time a study looked into personality and nearsightedness or myopia. Participants were analyzed using a state-of-the-art measure of the five major personality factors (openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and neuroticism), administered by psychologists from the University of Melbourne.

Researchers concluded: "The long-held view that myopic persons are introverted and conscientious may reflect intelligence-related stereotypes rather than real correlations. Furthermore, the predictive characteristic of intellect, subsumed in openness, appeared to be representative of a previously reported link between IQ and myopia rather than personality and myopia."

"We have literally busted the myth that people who wear glasses are introverted or have particular personality characteristics. They are more likely to be agreeable and open, rather than closed and introverted," said Paul Baird of the University of Melbourne's Centre for Eye Research Australia in a release.

In the world's biggest study into factors linked to myopia, the University used the Australian Twin Registry to study 633 twins and a comparative group of 278 family members over a four year period. Results revealed that comparison of family members and twins showed no link between myopia and introversion; however for what it's worth there was a significant but small association with myopia and agreeableness.

"Good eye care is really important but unfortunately there are not always good associations with wearing glasses," said Nick Haslam from the School of Behavioural Science at the University of Melbourne.

Indeed, one look at the LinuxQuestions.org site on the thread "Why do geeks where glasses" and you get the idea.

Nearsightedness is a very common vision condition that affects nearly 30% of the U.S. population, according to the American Optometric Association. Some evidence supports the theory that nearsightedness is hereditary. There is also growing evidence that nearsightedness may be caused by the stress of too much close vision work.

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