RISKS

Associated Risks of Myopia

Myopia is associated with increased risks to eye health in adulthood.
  • Myopic macular degeneration (MMD)1
  • Staphyloma2
  • Retinal detachment3
  • Primary open-angle glaucoma4
  • Cataracts5

Table 1

Table 1: The increased likelihood (odds ratio) of a myopic person > 60 years developing eye disease versus an emmetrope by degree of myopia6

Table 1 Tips

*Applies only to myopia of -6.00 to -10.00 D. Odds ratios are 7.8 for myopia of -10.00 to -15.00 D and 88 for myopia more than -15.00 D.
†Decimal visual acuity of 0.30 to 0.05 (approx 20/60 to 20/400).

THREATS

MYOPIA IS THE BIGGEST THREAT TO
EYE HEALTH OF THE 21ST CENTURY7

Prevalence of myopia

The number of people worldwide with myopia has nearly doubled in the past 7 years8.

Both Eastern and Western populations

Both Eastern and Western populations exhibit the same troubling trend of increasing myopia.8

No safe level of myopia,

No safe level of myopia, with over 30% of Myopic Macular Degeneration occurring in people less myopic than -6.00 D.9

Every additional diopter

Every additional diopter of myopia increases the risk of MMD by 67%.10

25% of people

25% of people with axial length ≥26 mm will develop visual impairment by age 75.11

Reduce the risk of sight-threatening complications in later life.

Prevalence of myopia

The number of people worldwide with myopia has nearly doubled in the past 7 years8.

Both Eastern and Western populations

Both Eastern and Western populations exhibit the same troubling trend of increasing myopia.8

No safe level of myopia,

No safe level of myopia, with over 30% of Myopic Macular Degeneration occurring in people less myopic than -6.00 D.9

Every additional diopter

Every additional diopter of myopia increases the risk of MMD by 67%.10

25% of people

25% of people with axial length ≥26 mm will develop visual impairment by age 75.11

MANAGING MYOPIA:
THE NEED FOR A NEW APPROACH

Myopia is a continuum of disease stages which should be assessed as early as possible. Myopia may continue to progress beyond the teenage years26 and the associated disease risk increases exponentially with severity of myopia,6,13 making early diagnosis and treatment crucial to lifetime eye health.

Children image

Early Myopia Onset Increases Risk of High Myopia