Prevalence and pattern of adult myopia progression in a general optometric practice population

Abstract

Longitudinal data on 559 myopic patients were collected from five optometry practices; adequate adulthood refractive data for analysis (three or more visits after 18 years of age) were available for 108 patients. Patterns of refractive change were evaluated subjectively and by linear regression analysis. Most myopes do not progress in young adulthood (about 20 to 25 years of age). Myopia progression during this age period is more common among males than among females. Adulthood myopia progression is related to an increase in corneal power.