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Review
. 2021 Apr 28;62(5):2.
doi: 10.1167/iovs.62.5.2.

IMI Impact of Myopia

Padmaja Sankaridurg  1   2 , Nina Tahhan  1   2 , Himal Kandel  3 , Thomas Naduvilath  1   2 , Haidong Zou  4 , Kevin D Frick  5 , Srinivas Marmamula  6 , David S Friedman  7 , Ecosse Lamoureux  8 , Jill Keeffe  6 , Jeffrey J Walline  9 , Timothy R Fricke  1 , Vilas Kovai  10 , Serge Resnikoff  1   2
Affiliations
Review

IMI Impact of Myopia

Padmaja Sankaridurg et al. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. .

Abstract

The global burden of myopia is growing. Myopia affected nearly 30% of the world population in 2020 and this number is expected to rise to 50% by 2050. This review aims to analyze the impact of myopia on individuals and society; summarizing the evidence for recent research on the prevalence of myopia and high myopia, lifetime pathological manifestations of myopia, direct health expenditure, and indirect costs such as lost productivity and reduced quality of life (QOL). The principal trends are a rising prevalence of myopia and high myopia, with a disproportionately greater increase in the prevalence of high myopia. This forecasts a future increase in vision loss due to uncorrected myopia as well as high myopia-related complications such as myopic macular degeneration. QOL is affected for those with uncorrected myopia, high myopia, or complications of high myopia. Overall the current global cost estimates related to direct health expenditure and lost productivity are in the billions. Health expenditure is greater in adults, reflecting the added costs due to myopia-related complications. Unless the current trajectory for the rising prevalence of myopia and high myopia change, the costs will continue to grow. The past few decades have seen the emergence of several novel approaches to prevent and slow myopia. Further work is needed to understand the life-long impact of myopia on an individual and the cost-effectiveness of the various novel approaches in reducing the burden.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: P. Sankaridurg, BHVI (E), co-inventor on multiple patents related to myopia (P), Alcon (R), SEED (R), Mark Ennovy (R), Carl Zeiss Vision (R); N. Tahhan, BHVI (E); H. Kandel, None; T. Naduvilath, BHVI (E), co-inventor on patent related to myopia (P); H. Zou, None; K.D. Frick, None; S. Marmamula, None; D.S. Friedman, None; E. Lamarouex, None; J. Keeffe, None; J.J. Walline, Bausch + Lomb (F); T.R. Fricke, BHVI (E); V. Kovai, None; S. Resnikoff, None

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Myopia prevalence from 2000 to 2019 (age and region).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Quality of life issues explored in myopia specific patient reported outcome measures.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Relationship between utility and visual acuity.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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