Interesting that it's on the rise...
Surely too much tv/games could contribute to this as well? With kids being up too close to a screen and such
Just thinking out loud on this one...
As Rilder said, it's not such a bad condition. I've had it since I was in Year 2-3. Glasses are pretty pricey especially if you add in the extras like the transition lens (which I always get).
(Mum's Long Sighted, think kid bro's slightly myopic already, 2nd bro wears glasses/contacts. It was in fact when he let me try his glasses that I found out)