Is the impact of myopia really that great?

Author: Zhang Jing, Department of Corneal Refractive Medicine, Jinan Mingshui Eye Hospital

Reviewer: Lei Yulin, Vice President of Jinan Mingshui Eye Hospital, Associate Chief Physician of Corneal Refractive Department

What effects does myopia bring? Many people will definitely say that myopia will bring inconvenience to daily life. In fact, in addition to affecting daily life, myopia will also have many effects on our eyes, psychology, next generation and even social development. This article shares with you the adverse effects of myopia from the following aspects. After reading it, I hope that everyone can spread more knowledge about myopia prevention and control in daily life, so that more people's myopia can be corrected and controlled in a timely and effective manner.

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1. Prevalence of Myopia

In recent years, with the development of technology, the popularization of electronic video terminals, and changes in daily living habits, the incidence of myopia has gradually increased. The global prevalence of myopia was 22.9% in 2000 and 27% in 2010, and is expected to reach 49.8% by 2050. At present, the prevalence in East Asia, including China, is close to 50%. In East Asia and Southeast Asia, 80% to 90% of young people are myopic, which is higher than Europe (40%), of which 10% to 20% are highly myopic. The prevalence of myopia among young people in my country is 38.37% [1]. In some cities, such as Beijing, the prevalence of myopia among high school students is as high as 74.2%. Think about it, 7 out of 10 people are myopic. The increasing prevalence has a great impact on the study and life of young people.

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2. Myopia and other eye complications

If myopia is not effectively prevented and controlled during adolescence, it may develop into high myopia (greater than 600 degrees). my country is a country with a high incidence of high myopia, with a prevalence of high myopia among adolescents ranging from 6.69% to 38.4% [2]. The complications caused by low myopia and simple high myopia are relatively few, and are simply manifested as decreased naked eye vision and fatigue. However, pathological high myopia has a continuous increase in axial length, which is manifested as lifelong progression of myopia. It brings many complications and may cause many irreversible visual impairments and fundus lesions. Many patients with high myopia cannot achieve normal vision even when wearing glasses. Some patients have limited eye movement and fixed strabismus, and some severe patients have extreme esotropia. More seriously, the fundus of patients with high myopia is significantly affected. Many patients suffer from high myopic retinopathy and posterior scleral staphyloma, and are very likely to develop complications such as retinal detachment and macular holes, resulting in very serious visual impairment.

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3. Myopia and Mental Health

In recent years, more and more attention has been paid to mental health. Negative psychological emotions have a significant negative impact on the formation of adolescents' social adaptation. Previous studies have shown [3] that patients with high myopia are more likely to have negative emotions such as anxiety and depression than the general population and people with low myopia, which have adverse reactions to life. There have also been reports that myopia in middle school students is closely related to mental health. Therefore, adolescent myopia groups should receive guidance and counseling based on their psychological characteristics and personality traits.

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4. Myopia and Genetics

We all say that if parents are myopic, their children will also be myopic. This statement has some basis. Myopia has a genetic tendency. According to previous surveys and studies [4], simple myopia is the combined influence of polygenic inheritance and environmental factors, and has a relatively small impact on the next generation. It is still under study and no clear mechanism has been found. However, in a family with high myopia, if the parents do not show high myopia, the probability of the child being highly myopic is 25%. If one of the parents is highly myopic, the probability of the child being highly myopic is 57.5%. If both parents are highly myopic, the probability of the child being highly myopic is as high as 100%. Therefore, myopia is affecting our next generation and needs to be taken seriously and paid attention to by everyone.

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5. Myopia and employment

Myopia is a minor problem in the eyes of many people, but it often affects you at critical moments! Is there a relationship between employment and myopia? The answer is yes. For example, if you want to apply for police, flight attendant or military service, you must pass the vision test. At this time, myopia is undoubtedly your "stumbling block". When graduation season comes, employment becomes a headache for many graduates, and some special recruitment jobs often exclude people with myopia.

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In short, myopia has many impacts on the eyes, mental health, the next generation, and social development. Once myopia is discovered, it should be corrected and controlled scientifically. Myopic friends are encouraged to do more outdoor activities, pay more attention to eye habits, combine work and rest, and use their eyes moderately. I hope everyone can have a pair of bright eyes!

References

1. Morgan IG, French AN, Ashby RS, et al. The epidemics of myopia: Aetiology and prevention[J]. Prog Retin Eye Res,2018,62:134-149.

2.Li Y, Liu J, Qi P. The increasing prevalence of myopia in junior high school students in the Haidian District of Beijing, China: a 10-year population-based survey[J]. BMC Ophthalmol, 2017,17(1):88.

3. Liu Xiaoling, Li Lina, Yuan Jie, et al. Comparative study on personality characteristics and mental health of high school students with high myopia and moderate and low myopia[J]. Advances in Ophthalmology, 2012, 32(10):963-965.

4. Gao Wen, Liang Fengming, Chen Tao. Progress in genetic research related to myopia[J]. International Journal of Ophthalmology, 2022, 22(7): 1074-1078.