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Updated: Nov 6, 2025
Inducement and Evaluation of a Murine Model of Experimental Myopia
Published on: January 22, 2019
The Risks and Benefits of Myopia Control
Mark A Bullimore1, Eric R Ritchey1, Sunil Shah2
1College of Optometry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas.
Purpose:
The prevalence of myopia is increasing around the world, stimulating interest in methods to slow its progression. The primary justification for slowing myopia progression is to reduce the risk of vision loss through sight-threatening ocular pathologic features in later life. The article analyzes whether the potential benefits of slowing myopia progression by 1 diopter (D) justify the potential risks associated with treatments.
Methods:
First, the known risks associated with various methods of myopia control are summarized, with emphasis on contact lens wear. Based on available data, the risk of visual impairment and predicted years of visual impairment are estimated for a range of incidence levels. Next, the increased risk of potentially sight-threatening conditions associated with different levels of myopia are reviewed. Finally, a model of the risk of visual impairment as a function of myopia level is developed, and the years of visual impairment associated with various levels of myopia and the years of visual impairment that could be prevented with achievable levels of myopia control are estimated.
Results:
Assuming an incidence of microbial keratitis between 1 and 25 per 10 000 patient-years and that 15% of cases result in vision loss leads to the conclusion that between 38 and 945 patients need to be exposed to 5 years of wear to produce 5 years of vision loss. Each additional 1 D of myopia is associated with a 58%, 20%, 21%, and 30% increase in the risk of myopic maculopathy, open-angle glaucoma, posterior subcapsular cataract, and retinal detachment, respectively. The predicted mean years of visual impairment ranges from 4.42 in a person with myopia of -3 D to 9.56 in a person with myopia of -8 D, and a 1-D reduction would lower these by 0.74 and 1.21 years, respectively.
Conclusions:
The potential benefits of myopia control outweigh the risks: the number needed to treat to prevent 5 years of visual impairment is between 4.1 and 6.8, whereas fewer than 1 in 38 will experience a loss of vision as a result of myopia control.
Insights
Slowing myopia progression is crucial for preventing future vision loss. The benefits of myopia control significantly outweigh the risks, with fewer than 1 in 38 experiencing vision loss from treatments.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Optometry
- Public Health
Background:
- Globally increasing myopia prevalence necessitates effective progression control strategies.
- Slowing myopia progression aims to mitigate risks of sight-threatening ocular pathologies later in life.
- This study evaluates the risk-benefit profile of reducing myopia by 1 diopter (D).
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze if the benefits of slowing myopia progression by 1D justify potential treatment risks.
- To quantify the risk of visual impairment from myopia control treatments.
- To review the increased risk of ocular conditions associated with higher myopia levels.
Main Methods:
- Summarizing risks of myopia control methods, focusing on contact lens wear.
- Estimating visual impairment risk and duration based on incidence data.
- Developing a model to predict visual impairment years versus myopia level and control efficacy.
Main Results:
- Each 1D increase in myopia elevates risks for myopic maculopathy, glaucoma, cataract, and retinal detachment.
- Between 38 and 945 patients require 5 years of treatment to cause 5 years of vision loss.
- A 1D reduction in myopia can decrease predicted visual impairment by 0.74 to 1.21 years.
Conclusions:
- The benefits of myopia control substantially outweigh the associated risks.
- The number needed to treat to prevent 5 years of visual impairment ranges from 4.1 to 6.8.
- Less than 1 in 38 individuals experience vision loss due to myopia control interventions.
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