Impact of high myopia on visual disability and its causes in a Spanish cohort

To evaluate visual disability (VD) and associated functional limitations in a Spanish High Myopia (HM) cohort using various disability scales and to identify the main causes of this disability and its impact on daily life.

This observational study reviewed HM (spherical equivalent (SE)≤-6 D) adults clinical records at IOBA from January 2023 to June 2024. Exclusion criteria included incomplete data and having different pathologies other than pathologic myopia. VD was classified using ICD-10, ICD-11, and Wecker scales. R was used for statistical analysis.

We analysed 600 eyes from 300 patients (73.7 % women, mean age 57.6 ± 15.3 years, mean SE -13.04 ± 6.03 D, mean LogMAR visual acuity 0.52 ± 0.72). According to ICD-11, 7.6 % had mild VD, 12.3 % moderate, 4.7 % severe, and 2.7 % were blind. Wecker scale showed 46.7 % had VD. VD patients were older (p-value= 5.81 × 10^-17) and had more negative SE (p-value=7.96 × 10^-13). No sex differences in VD or pathology frequency were found. Myopic macular atrophy (MMA) (OR=7.816), retinal detachment (OR=3.956), amblyopia (OR=3.455), neovascularization (OR=2.668), SE (OR=1.115), and age (OR=1.040) were statistically significant key factors (p-value<0.05) for greater VD.

This study highlights a significant VD in a Spanish HM cohort being MMA the main cause. Age and SE were found to be relevant factors, as well.This helps to indentify patients more in need of visual rehabilitation.