Incidence and progression of myopia (short-sightedness) during young adulthood
Samantha Lee1, Gareth Lingham, David Mackey 1Lions Eye Institute, University Of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
Abstract
Background:
Myopia is associated with increased risk of future visual impairment and was thought to only develop and worsen during childhood. This study explores the incidence of myopia and change in ocular biometry during early adulthood from 20 to 28 years old.
Methods:
Participants from the Raine Study attended a baseline eye examination at 20 years old and a follow-up at 28 years old. Refractive error was measured using an autorefractor and myopia was defined as having a refractive spherical equivalent (SE) of ≤-0.50 dioptres in either eye. Axial length (AL; length of eyeball) was additionally measured during the eye examination.
Results:
For 516 (50.6% male) participants without myopia at baseline, the 8-year myopia incidence was 14.0%. Odds of incident myopia was higher in those of East Asian ancestry (odds ratio [OR]=6.13), female sex (OR=1.81), less ocular sun exposure (OR= 9.86), and parental myopia (OR= 1.57 per parent).
691 participants (49% male) were included in the progression analysis. A myopic shift of 0.50 diopters or greater in at least 1 eye occurred in 261 participants (37.8%).
Longitudinal changes in SE (-0.04 dioptres/year) and AL (0.02mm/year) were significant (both p< 0.001). Myopia progression and axial elongation were faster in female participants (SE: 0.02 dioptres/year; AL: 0.007mm/year) and in those with parental myopia (per parent: SE: 0.01 dioptres/year; AL: 0.005mm/year). Education level was not associated with myopia incidence or progression.
Conclusions:
One in 7 young adults without myopia develop it in their twenties. Myopia progression continues for more than one-third of adults during the third decade of life.
Acknowledgements:
FHRI Fund Grant ID REA2022/6 Mackey
Biography
Dr Samantha Lee is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Genetics & Epidemiology group led by Prof David Mackey at the Lions Eye Institute, Centre for Ophthalmology & Visual Science, UWA. In 2017, she completed her PhD in Optometry at the Queensland University of Technology under the supervision of Prof Joanne Wood and Dr Alex Black. She serves as an Editorial Board Member for BMC Ophthalmology. Her current areas of interests include ophthalmic epidemiology and genetics of myopia and glaucoma.