Global Prevalence of Child Myopia Is Increasing
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 25, 2024 -- The global prevalence of child myopia is increasing and is projected to reach 39.80 percent in 2050, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published online Sept. 24 in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.
Jinghong Liang, from Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou, China, and colleagues conducted a literature review to examine the global and regional prevalence of myopia and its occurrence within specific demographic groups. The analysis included 276 studies, with 5,410,945 children or adolescents from 50 countries in six continents.
The researchers observed a gradual increase in the pooled prevalence of myopia, varying from 24.32 to 35.81 percent from 1990 to 2023; prevalence is projected to reach 36.59 and 39.80 percent in 2040 and 2050, respectively. A higher proportion of myopia prevalence is exhibited in individuals residing in East Asia (35.22 percent) or in urban areas (28.55 percent) and in females, adolescents, and high school students (33.57, 47.00, and 45.71 percent, respectively).
"It is crucial to recognize that myopia may become a global health burden in the future," the authors write. "To address this growing epidemic, further research with a more region-specific approach is required to develop effective strategies at the local level."
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted September 2024
Read this next
1.5 Million U.S. Adults Have Vision-Affecting Glaucoma
FRIDAY, Oct. 18, 2024 -- An estimated 2.56 percent of U.S. adults ages 40 years and older have glaucoma, according to a study published online Oct. 17 in JAMA...
Vision Impairment Contributes to Dementia Risk
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 11, 2024 -- The population-attributable fraction of dementia from vision impairments ranges from 4.9 to 19.0 percent, according to a study published online Sept...
Sensory Disabilities Tied to Worse Subsequent Mental Health in Seniors
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 28, 2024 -- For older adults, having greater numbers of sensory disabilities is associated with worse subsequent mental health, according to a study published...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.