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8% Develop Myopia in 15-Year Rural Study
27 Sep
Summary
- Rural Telangana and Andhra Pradesh study found 8% developed myopia.
- Myopia incidence similar in younger and older adult groups.
- WHO predicts half the world may be myopic by 2050.
A comprehensive 15-year eye study conducted in rural Telangana and Andhra Pradesh has revealed that 8% of individuals who did not have myopia initially developed it over the study period. The Andhra Pradesh Eye Disease Study (APEDS), led by the LV Prasad Eye Institute, tracked participants from 1996-2000 and re-examined them between 2012-2016.
The research analyzed 2,071 participants under 30 and 755 aged 30 and above. The incidence of new myopia cases was found to be 8% overall, with similar rates observed in both younger and older age brackets. This indicates a steady rise in myopia even in non-urban settings.
Further breakdown showed gender-based differences, with women under 30 experiencing a higher incidence (9.9%) than men (6.1%). Conversely, among those aged 30 and over, men had a higher incidence (10.4%) compared to women (5.5%). Researchers identified potential risk factors such as nuclear sclerosis and alcohol consumption in older adults.
These findings are particularly relevant given the World Health Organization's projection that half of the world's population could be myopic by 2050. Dr. Rohit Khanna emphasized the importance of such data for developing strategies to manage the escalating global myopia burden.
