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. 2024 Mar 5;65(3):29.
doi: 10.1167/iovs.65.3.29.

Prevalence of Myopic Maculopathy Among the Very Old: The Ural Very Old Study

Mukharram M Bikbov  1 , Timur R Gilmanshin  1 , Gyulli M Kazakbaeva  1 , Songhomitra Panda-Jonas  2   3 , Jost B Jonas  4   5   6   7
Affiliations

Prevalence of Myopic Maculopathy Among the Very Old: The Ural Very Old Study

Mukharram M Bikbov et al. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. .

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the prevalence of myopic macular degeneration (MMD) in very old individuals.

Methods: The population-based Ural Very Old Study (UVOS) included 1526 (81.1%) of 1882 eligible inhabitants aged ≥85 years. Assessable fundus images were available for 930 (60.9%) individuals (mean age, 88.6 ± 2.7 years). MMD was defined by macular patchy atrophies (i.e., MMD stage 3 and 4 as defined by the Pathologic Myopia Study Group).

Results: MMD prevalence was 21 of 930 (2.3%; 95% CI, 1.3-3.3), with 10 individuals (1.1%; 95% CI, 0.4-1.7) having MMD stage 3 and 11 participants (1.2%; 95% CI, 0.5-1.9) MMD stage 4 disease. Within MMD stage 3 and 4, prevalence of binocular moderate to severe vision impairment was 4 of 10 (40%; 95% CI, 31-77) and 7 of 11 (64%; 95% CI, 30-98), respectively, and the prevalence of binocular blindness was 2 of 10 (20%; 95% CI, 0-50) and 3 of 11 (27%; 95% CI, 0-59), respectively. In minor myopia (axial length, 24.0 to <24.5 mm), moderate myopia (axial length, 24.5 to <26.5 mm), and high myopia (axial length, ≥26.5 mm), MMD prevalence in the right eyes was 0 of 46 eyes (0%), 3 of 40 eyes (8%; 95% CI, 0-16), and 7 of 9 (78%; 95% CI, 44-100), respectively; MMD prevalence in the left eyes was 1 in 48 eyes (2%; 95% CI, 0-6), 4 of 36 eyes (11%; 95% CI, 0-22), and 3 of 4 eyes (75%; 95% CI, 0-100), respectively. In multivariable analysis, a higher MMD prevalence (odds ratio, 8.89; 95% CI, 3.43-23.0; P < 0.001) and higher MMD stage (beta, 0.45; B, 19; 95% CI, 0.16-0.22; P < 0.001) were correlated with longer axial length but not with any other ocular or systemic parameter.

Conclusions: MMD prevalence (stages 3 and 4) in very old individuals increased 8.89-fold for each mm axial length increase, with a prevalence of ≥75% in highly myopic eyes. In old age, highly myopic individuals have a high risk of eventually developing MMD with marked vision impairment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: M.M. Bikbov, None; T.R. Gilmanshin, None; G.M. Kazakbaeva, None; S. Panda-Jonas, European patent EP 3 271 392, JP 2021-119187, and US 2021 0340237 A1: “Agents for use in the therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of myopia or hyperopia”; European patent application 23196899.1 “EGFR Antagonists for the treatment of diseases involving unwanted migration, proliferation, and metaplasia of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells”; J.B. Jonas, European patent EP 3 271 392, JP 2021-119187, and US 2021 0340237 A1: “Agents for use in the therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of myopia or hyperopia”; European patent application 23196899.1 “EGFR Antagonists for the treatment of diseases involving unwanted migration, proliferation, and metaplasia of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells”

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Flowchart showing the composition of the population of the UVOS.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
(A) Graph showing the distribution of the prevalence of MMD (stage 3 and stage 4 combined) (right eyes) in dependence of axial length groups in the UVOS. (B) Graph showing the distribution of the prevalence of MMD (stage 3 and stage 4 combined) (left eyes) in dependence of axial length groups in the UVOS.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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