The rising global prevalence of myopia, expected to affect half the world’s population by 2050, represents a significant public health issue (1). Beyond a simple refractive error, myopia significantly increases the risk of sight threatening conditions including myopic macular degeneration, retinal detachment, glaucoma and cataract (2- 4). These findings underscore the critical need for evidence-based strategies to manage myopia, aiming to slow its progression and mitigate the risk of long-term ocular complications
Regional environmental and lifestyle factors strongly influence the onset and progression of myopia (5-7). Understanding how these factors shape refractive development is essential for improving prevention and management strategies.
This PhD project aims to evaluate the proportion of myopia in children attending an optometric practice by analysing longitudinal clinical data. Available information will include axial length measurements, refractive error status, OCT scans, and fundus images. Two age groups will be examined: 6–7 years and 12–14 years. These data will be compared with established cohort studies, such as the Aston Eye Study and the PreMO database (PreMO platform), to identify potential regional differences in refractive patterns and axial elongation.
A further objective is to identify ocular biomarkers associated with myopia and its progression. Key parameters will include axial length growth rate, choroidal thickness, retinal morphology, and structural changes observable on retinal imaging. Identifying these biomarkers may improve early detection of children at risk of fast progression.
The study will also evaluate the effectiveness of different myopia control interventions currently used in clinical practice, including specialised spectacle lenses and contact lenses.
Overall, this research will provide important insights into the prevalence, risk factors, and progression patterns of myopia in children. The findings will support earlier identification of high-risk children and help guide more effective, evidence-based intervention strategies.
Refences:
1. Holden BA, Fricke TR, Wilson DA, Jong M, Naidoo KS, Sankaridurg P, Wong TY, Naduvilath TJ, Resnikoff S. Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 through 2050, Ophthalmology, 2016;123: 5, 1036–1042.
2. Qiu M, Wang SY, Singh K, Lin SC. Association between myopia and glaucoma in the United States population. Investigative ophthalmology & visual science 2013;54:830-5.
3. Younan C, Mitchell P, Cumming RG, Rochtchina E, Wang JJ. Myopia and incident cataract and cataract surgery: the blue mountains eye study. Investigative ophthalmology & visual science 2002;43:3625-32.
4. Group TEDC-CS. Risk factors for idiopathic rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. The Eye Disease Case-Control Study Group. American journal of epidemiology 1993;137:749-57.
5. Alvarez-Peregrina C, Sánchez-Tena MÁ, Martinez-Perez C, Villa-Collar C. The relationship between screen and outdoor time with rates of myopia in Spanish children. Frontiers in Public Health. 2020;8:560378
6. Chua SY, Sabanayagam C, Cheung YB, Chia A, Valenzuela RK, Tan D, Wong TY, Cheng CY, Saw SM. Age of onset of myopia predicts risk of high myopia in later childhood in myopic Singapore children. Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics: The Journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists). 2016;36(4):388–394.
7. Clark R, Kneepkens SCM, Plotnikov D, Shah RL, Huang Y, Tideman JWL, Klaver CCW, Atan D, Williams C, Guggenheim JA. U.K. Biobank Eye and Vision Consortium. Time Spent Outdoors Partly Accounts for the Effect of Education on Myopia. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 2023a;64(14):38.
