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Myopia and its progression in children in London, UK: a retrospective evaluation
Karen Wong1, Annegret Dahlmann-Noor2
1Paediatric Service, Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 162 City Road, London EC1V 2PD, UK.
Insights
Myopia prescriptions in London children increased significantly over 10 years. Progression rates were higher than previously reported for European children, suggesting urban living may influence myopia development.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Optometry
- Public Health
Background:
- Global myopia prevalence is rising, with earlier onset and faster progression leading to increased risks of severe vision complications.
- Limited data exists on myopia trends among children in UK urban settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze myopia trends in children within an urban UK setting.
- To assess the proportion of myopia spectacle prescriptions and progression rates over a decade.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of refraction and demographic data from children under 17 years.
- Data collected from Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, between 2008 and 2017.
Main Results:
- The proportion of myopic prescriptions rose from 24% to 32% over the 10-year period.
- Median myopia progression was -0.40 D/year in progressing cases, higher in girls and with moderate myopia.
- Progression was faster before the average age of puberty onset.
Conclusions:
- The study indicates higher myopia prescription rates and progression than previously reported in European children.
- Urban living in London may contribute to myopia progression, irrespective of genetic background.
Purpose:
Worldwide, the prevalence of myopia is increasing. Myopia begins at younger ages and progresses faster, leading to more adults with high myopia and risk of sight-threatening complications. No data are available about myopia trends in children in urban areas in the UK. We present a 10-year review of children attending a secondary and tertiary eye care facility in London, focussing on the proportion of glasses prescriptions for myopia and progression rates.
Methods:
We collated refraction and demographic data from children under the age of 17 years seen at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK, between 2008 and 2017.
Results:
We included 63,854 datasets from 23,593 children (51.2% boys, median age 5.4 years, interquartile range IQR 3.8-7.1). The proportion of myopic prescriptions increased from 24 to 32%. In n = 3355 with initial mild/moderate myopia, median progression rate was -0.16 (-0.5 to 0.04) D/year. In those with progression (n = 2095), the rate was -0.40 (-0.19 to -0.74) D/year, slightly higher in girls than in boys (-0.42 vs -0.38 D/year; p = 0.02). Progression was faster in initial moderate than initial mild myopia (-0.54 vs -0.37 D/year; p < 0.001), and before than after average age of onset of puberty (-0.41 vs -0.35 D/year; p = 0.013). There was no statistically significant difference between children of different ethnic backgrounds.
Conclusions:
In this cohort, the proportion of glasses prescriptions for myopia and the rate of progression are higher than previously reported for European countries. Living in an urban environment may result in similar progression rates despite different genetic backgrounds.
