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Studies going as far back as the 80s show that people in submarines develop myopia:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7457562

The leading theory is that being in a confined space causes the eye to adapt to viewing things up close rather than at a distance.

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Anecdote: I saw an article about Native Americans, using a technique of quickly focusing from near to far and back as a means to increase their eyesight range, when I was around twelve years old. Called Eagle Eyes, or something. I have been practicing regularly for eighteen years now, and my eyesight has only improved. I have been looking at computers and books at least a third of my time since. Am I actively preventing myopia? Interesting.

Years ago my optometrist suggested I do this exercise. I've been doing it at regular intervals throughout the day for the last 10 years or so. Can't say my eyesight has improved but maybe it's prevented it from getting worse.

That's really interesting. What were your prescriptions before/after?

I was 20/20 in both eyes before, 20/15 in one and 20/10 in the other now. The last measurement was two years ago.

Are you over 40-45, or under?

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