title: Prevalence of refractive error in Europe: the European Eye Epidemiology (E(3)) Consortium.
abstract: To estimate the prevalence of refractive error in adults across Europe. Refractive data (mean spherical equivalent) collected between 1990 and 2013 from fifteen population-based cohort and cross-sectional studies of the European Eye Epidemiology (E(3)) Consortium were combined in a random effects meta-analysis stratified by 5-year age intervals and gender. Participants were excluded if they were identified as having had cataract surgery, retinal detachment, refractive surgery or other factors that might influence refraction. Estimates of refractive error prevalence were obtained including the following classifications: myopia ≤-0.75 diopters (D), high myopia ≤-6D, hyperopia ≥1D and astigmatism ≥1D. Meta-analysis of refractive error was performed for 61,946 individuals from fifteen studies with median age ranging from 44 to 81 and minimal ethnic variation (98 % European ancestry). The age-standardised prevalences (using the 2010 European Standard Population, limited to those ≥25 and <90 years old) were: myopia 30.6 % [95 % confidence interval (CI) 30.4-30.9], high myopia 2.7 % (95 % CI 2.69-2.73), hyperopia 25.2 % (95 % CI 25.0-25.4) and astigmatism 23.9 % (95 % CI 23.7-24.1). Age-specific estimates revealed a high prevalence of myopia in younger participants [47.2 % (CI 41.8-52.5) in 25-29 years-olds]. Refractive error affects just over a half of European adults. The greatest burden of refractive error is due to myopia, with high prevalence rates in young adults. Using the 2010 European population estimates, we estimate there are 227.2 million people with myopia across Europe.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Katie M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Virginie J M
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Verhoeven
authors.forename: Phillippa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cumberland
authors.forename: Geir
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bertelsen
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wolfram
authors.forename: Gabriëlle H S
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Buitendijk
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.forename: Cornelia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: van Duijn
authors.forename: Johannes R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Vingerling
authors.forename: Robert W A M
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Kuijpers
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Höhn
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mirshahi
authors.forename: Anthony P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Khawaja
authors.forename: Robert N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Luben
authors.forename: Maja Gran
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Erke
authors.forename: Therese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: von Hanno
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mahroo
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hogg
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gieger
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cougnard-Grégoire
authors.forename: Eleftherios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Anastasopoulos
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bron
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Dartigues
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Korobelnik
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Creuzot-Garcher
authors.forename: Fotis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Topouzis
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Delcourt
authors.forename: Jugnoo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rahi
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meitinger
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
authors.forename: Caroline C W
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Klaver
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hammond
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People