Complement and local ocular inflammatory response: Chronic immune factors in myopia

Myopia has emerged as a globally pervasive visual disorder, with its incidence rising steadily, particularly among children and adolescents, posing a significant threat to ocular health. Recent research underscores a strong link between chronic inflammatory processes and both the onset and progression of myopia. As a cornerstone of the innate immune system, the complement cascade plays a pivotal role in mediating ocular inflammatory diseases associated with high myopia, including macular degeneration, glaucoma, allergic conjunctivitis, uveitis, and scleritis. Accumulating evidence indicates that complement activation contributes to myopia pathogenesis by orchestrating local inflammatory responses within the eye. This article is a narrative review that synthesizes current evidence on complement-myopia interactions, with a focus on the underlying biological mechanisms and their potential as therapeutic targets for both preventing and managing myopia.