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inSIGHT

Abstract

Myopia is the most common eye disorder in the world and an increasing cause of vision impairment in children.1 Myopia is an imbalance in the refractive components of the eye and its length, leading to inaccurate focusing of light rays in front of the retina tissue instead of on it. There is a spectrum of severity of myopia, from mild nearsightedness to a more severe form known as high or degenerative myopia, which has the potential to cause vision loss and blindness. There is evidence of a developing myopia epidemic, with an estimated one-third of the world population affected by some degree of myopia as of 2020. This number is projected to reach nearly one-half of the population by the year 2050. Moreover, 10% of the world population is predicted to have high myopia by 2050.1 High myopia not only leads to worsening uncorrected vision in those affected but can also lead to vision-threatening ophthalmic complications. As the axial length of the eye increases, so does the risk of retinal detachment, myopic macular degeneration, cataracts, and open angle glaucoma, all of which can lead to vision loss or blindness.2 With its growing prevalence and the risks that accompany high myopia, there is clinical importance to understanding the pathology of myopia, the factors leading to the current epidemic, and the efficacy of current interventions used to manage myopia in pediatric populations.

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