The changing prevalence of myopia in young adults: a 13-year series of population-based prevalence surveys.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the changing prevalence of myopia during the years 1990 through 2002 among the 16- to 22-year age group and identify possible risk factors.


METHODS
A retrospective study, based on 13 repeated prevalence surveys conducted over a 13-year period. The study subjects were all Israeli nationals belonging to the 16- to 22-year age group from the years 1990 to 2002. Refraction was determined by using subjective visual acuity followed by noncycloplegic autorefraction and subjective validation based on the autorefraction


RESULTS
Mild myopia was defined as a refractive error of -0.50 to -3.00 D in at least one eye, moderate myopia as -3.25 to -6.00 D, and high myopia as more than -6.00 D. results. There were 919,929 subjects (382,139 [42%] females and 537,790 [58%] males) included in the study. The overall prevalence of myopia increased from 20.3% in 1990 to 28.3% in 2002. The prevalence of high, moderate, and mild myopia significantly increased in males from 1.7%, 5.7%, and 11.6% in 1990 to 2.05%, 7.2%, and 16.3% in 2002, respectively (P < 0.001). In females, the prevalence of myopia increased from 1.9%, 6.6%, and 13.5% in 1990 to 2.4%, 9.2%, and 20.7% in 2002, respectively (P < 0.001). A correlation between myopia and the number of years of education was observed. Non-Israeli origin was found to be a significant risk factor for myopia.


CONCLUSIONS
During the 13 years from 1990 to 2002, the prevalence of myopia significantly increased among the Israeli population. Although there was an association with the level of education, gender, ethnicity, and origin, the prevalence of myopia increased on an annual basis, independent of these factors.
Bar Dayan
Yosefa
Y
Surgeon General Headquarters, Israeli Defense Forces Medical Corps, Israel.
Levin
Avi
A
Morad
Yair
Y
Grotto
Itamar
I
Ben-David
Rachel
R
Goldberg
Avishai
A
Onn
Erez
E
Avni
Isaac
I
Levi
Yehezkel
Y
Benyamini
Oren Gil
OG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity