The epidemics of myopia: Aetiology and prevention

Abstract

There is an epidemic of myopia in East and Southeast Asia, with the prevalence of myopia in young adults around 80–90%, and an accompanying high prevalence of high myopia in young adults (10–20%). This may foreshadow an increase in low vision and blindness due to pathological myopia. These two epidemics are linked, since the increasingly early onset of myopia, combined with high progression rates, naturally generates an epidemic of high myopia, with high prevalences of “acquired” high myopia appearing around the age of 11–13. The major risk factors identified are intensive education, and limited time outdoors. The localization of the epidemic appears to be due to the high educational pressur..