[Analysis of spectacle lens prescriptions shows no increase of myopia in Germany from 2000 to 2015]

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether the prevalence and magnitude of myopia among children and young adults wearing spectacles has increased in Germany from 2000 to 2015.

Material and methods: A total of 1,223,410 refraction values from 278,432 male and 333,273 female subjects between 5 and 30 years of age were analyzed. All subjects had received a new pair of spectacles between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2015. The parameter studied was the spherical equivalent averaged over both eyes of each subject (N = 611,705). In order to identify temporal changes, the entire period of 16 years was divided into 4 time intervals of 4 years each. In the subjects three evaluation criteria were studied as a function of age: a) the frequency of myopic subjects among all spectacle wearers, b) the mean spherical equivalent and c) the distribution of the individual spherical equivalents.

Results: a) The frequency of myopic corrections among all spectacle wearers did not increase from 2000 to 2015. At 5 years of age, 9% of all children wearing glasses were myopic (≤-0.5 D) and 80% were hyperopic (≥+0.5 D). At the age of 10, 20 and 25 years, 46%, 75% and 79%, respectively, of all spectacle wearers were myopic and 42%, 13% and 10% hyperopic. b) The mean spherical equivalent, averaged across all spectacle wearers of the same age, did not show a myopic shift from 2000 to 2015. At the age of 5, 10.3 and 27 years, the mean spherical equivalent all subjects wearing glasses was +1.74 D, 0.0 D and -1.91D. c) The refractive power distribution of the individual spherical equivalents did not change significantly from 2000 to 2015. Neither low nor high myopias were more abundant in the period 2012-2015 compared to the previous years.

Conclusion: The frequency and the refractive power of myopia did not increase in Germany over the last 16 years.

Keywords: Germany; Increase in myopia; Myopia; Prevalence of myopia; School myopia.