Rates of Myopia Progression in Children

Abstract

 

Purpose:

 

To conduct a meta-analysis on rates of progression of myopia in children in different ethnic groups and as a function of age.

 

Methods:

 

The National Library of Medicine’s PubMed literature database was searched for articles on myopia progression using the terms ‘myopi*progression’ and MeSH terms ‘myopia’ and ‘disease progression’ and limited to publications from January 1990 and only for humans < 16 y/o. Studies that were non-randomized, did not use cycloplegic autorefraction, had small sample size, dealt with high myopia (>-6.0D) or special subject groups, myopia as part of a syndrome or condition, were retrospective, or used controls wearing other than spectacles, were excluded.

 

Results:

 

175 articles were identified. 25 remained after applying exclusion criteria. The estimated myopic progression after one year of follow-up was -0.53D (95% C.I. -0.32 to -0.74) for Caucasians and -0.87D (95% C.I. -0.73 to -1.01) for Asians. Estimated progression rates were dependent on baseline age with decreasing progression rates as age increased. Graphs below shows annual progression rate vs age. Exponential curves with a constant offset were fitted to Caucasian and Asian eyes. Rates also varied with gender, with progression over 2.4 yr from an average baseline age of 8.9 yr (combined ethnicities), and were 0.66D/yr for females and 0.58D/yr for males.

 

Conclusions:

 

Our analysis shows higher myopia progression rates in urban Asians as compared with urban Caucasians. Younger children demonstrated greater annual rates of progression of myopia.  

 

Keywords: myopia