Global increase in myopia prevalence

According to research from the Brien Holden Vision Institute and the University of New South Wales in Australia, the global myopia population is rapidly increasing.

In 2000, the global myopic population was 1,406 billion, with 163 million individuals affected by high myopia. Projections indicate that by 2050, the global myopia population will rise to 4.758 billion, and the high myopia population will reach 938 million, with one in ten people at risk of blindness.

It is difficult to imagine a time when one in ten people could face blindness due to myopia.

Holden and his colleagues attribute the global increase in myopia to changes in children’s developmental environments. The report emphasizes the need for further research on glasses and contact lenses designed to prevent myopia, particularly in response to significant lifestyle changes such as the increased use of smartphones and other activities that require near-focus.

Myopia prevalence is notably high in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in Asia. In countries like South Korea, Taiwan, and China, the myopia rate among late teens and young adults ranges from 84% to 97%. In urban East Asia, the prevalence ranges from 80% to 90%, which is substantially higher than in other regions. (Source: https://www.visioncenter.org/resources/myopia-prevalence-statistics/)

Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on myopia progression in children, as highlighted in the 2022 systematic review titled The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Myopia Progression in Children: A Systematic Review (Published online: Aug 26, 2022, DOI: 10.7759/cureus.28444). 

The study identified two major risk factors for myopia progression during the pandemic: outdoor activity time and screen time (time spent on digital devices). Due to lockdown measures, children’s outdoor activity decreased while screen time significantly increased. The review found that increased use of near-focus digital devices like smartphones and tablets was strongly linked to myopia progression, suggesting that the environmental changes caused by the pandemic have greatly accelerated the condition in children.

These findings highlight how, alongside ongoing lifestyle changes, the sudden disruption caused by the pandemic has worsened the global myopia issue. As a result, children’s unaided visual acuity continues to decline year after year. Prolonged use of smartphones and handheld video game consoles is considered a possible cause of this decline, but despite these changes in children’s environments, no effective solutions have been found to halt the deterioration of eyesight.

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Myopia in children

Myopia tends to progress more rapidly when it begins at a younger age. As myopia advances to high levels, the risk of blindness and visual impairment increases, along with a higher susceptibility to eye diseases like retinal detachment and glaucoma.

In recent years, orthokeratology has gained attention in academic and research circles worldwide as an effective treatment to slow the progression of myopia in children. 

Research has shown that the earlier myopia is addressed in children, the better the chances of controlling its progression. Therefore, it is crucial to take corrective measures to manage and prevent further worsening of myopia as early as possible in a child’s life.

Consequences of myopia progression

As myopia progresses, it can lead to serious issues such as visual field abnormalities, retinal detachment, and even blindness. With myopia onset occurring at younger ages, timely and proper correction is essential. Regular checkups with an ophthalmologist or optometrist (at least once a year) are recommended to monitor progression.

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Symptoms of advanced myopia

Visual field abnormalities

Advanced myopia can cause visual field loss, which reduces the overall field of vision, or visual field narrowing, where the field of vision becomes more constricted. A central dark spot, which obstructs the center of the visual field, may also develop. If you notice these symptoms, it is important to seek medical treatment promptly.

Retinal detachment

The inside of the eye is filled with a jelly-like substance called vitreous. When a tear in the retina allows fluid to seep between the retina and its underlying layer, it can lead to retinal detachment. If untreated, retinal detachment can result in blindness, and surgical intervention is required.

Retinal detachment can now be detected at its early stage with the use of special testing equipment. If you experience symptoms, please consult your ophthalmologist or optometrist for further evaluation.