Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 26, 2026
05:26
Press Needle: A Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy for Myopia Patients with Dry Eye
Published on: April 12, 2024
Worldwide prevalence and risk factors for myopia
Chen-Wei Pan1, Dharani Ramamurthy, Seang-Mei Saw
1Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Summary
Myopia, a common vision disorder, is influenced by genetics and environment. Environmental factors like near work and less outdoor time are key risks, especially in children, though exact causes remain debated.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Genetics
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Myopia is the most common refractive error, a complex trait influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.
- Despite extensive research, the precise etiology of myopia remains incompletely understood.
- Understanding myopia's causes is crucial for public health, given its high prevalence worldwide.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize global patterns and trends in myopia prevalence.
- To critically evaluate identified risk factors for myopia using population-based studies.
- To provide a comprehensive overview of current knowledge on myopia etiology.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based studies on myopia prevalence and risk factors.
- Analysis of regional and ethnic variations in myopia.
- Identification and evaluation of environmental and genetic risk factors.
Main Results:
- Myopia prevalence exhibits significant variation across different global regions and ethnicities.
- Higher myopia prevalence is observed in urban children and those of Chinese ethnicity.
- Increased near work, reduced outdoor time, higher education, and parental myopia history are associated with elevated myopia risk.
Conclusions:
- Environmental factors significantly contribute to myopia development.
- The interplay between genes and environment in myopia etiology requires further investigation due to inconsistent findings.
- Future research, including longitudinal studies and intervention trials, is essential to clarify myopia's complex etiology.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category, whereas...
01:27Diabetic Retinopathy
DefinitionDiabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes affecting the retinal blood vessels.Risk FactorsDiabetic retinopathy is present in almost all individuals with type 1 diabetes and more than 60% of those with type 2 diabetes after two decades of disease.The risk increases with poor glycemic control, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, pregnancy, and puberty.Although cataracts and glaucoma are also more frequent in people with diabetes, retinopathy remains the leading...
01:16Focusing of Light in the Eye
Light rays enter the eye through the cornea, a transparent dome-shaped tissue that is the eye's outermost layer. The cornea bends or refracts, light rays traveling to the pupil. The shape of the cornea determines how much of the light is bent and whether the image will be focused correctly on the retina at the back of the eye. Once the light has passed through both refraction layers, it converges into a single focal point onto a small area. This is where photoreceptors start transforming...
01:25Glaucoma: Overview
Glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure that damages the retina and optic nerve, leading to irreversible blindness if left untreated. The human eye has various components, including the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and optic nerve. Aqueous humor is secreted by the epithelium of the ciliary body in the posterior chamber and flows through the trabecular meshwork and canal of Schlemm, maintaining normal intraocular pressure. The trabecular meshwork and the canal...
01:26Type II Diabetes I: Introduction
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance, in which target tissues such as the liver, muscle, and adipose tissue respond poorly to insulin. It is also associated with inadequate compensatory insulin secretion, where pancreatic β-cells fail to produce sufficient insulin. Together, these abnormalities lead to persistent hyperglycemia.EtiologyT2DM develops through a complex interaction of genetic predisposition and environmental or...
01:22Microbiome of the Eye
The human eye has a specialized microbiota that reflects its unique anatomical and immunological environment. This low-biomass microbial community predominantly colonizes the conjunctiva and eyelid margins, playing a vital role in ocular surface homeostasis and defense. Despite its proximity to the richly colonized facial skin, the ocular surface maintains a distinct microbial profile due to continuous mechanical and biochemical defense mechanisms.The conjunctival surface hosts fewer microbial...