Beyond refractive error: myopia's exponential burden on retinal health with each diopter.

BACKGROUND

As myopia reaches epidemic levels worldwide, its role in driving vision-threatening retinal complications is increasingly urgent. This study quantifies the burden of myopia by examining its association with key retinal diseases and how risk escalates with increasing severity.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the STARR clinical data warehouse, including all patients with ≥ 1 documented eye visit. Myopia severity was defined by spherical equivalent and axial length, classifying patients as non-myopic, myopic, highly myopic, or severely myopic. Primary outcomes included six retinal diseases associated with myopia: choroidal neovascularization (CNV), myopic macular degeneration (MMD), foveoschisis, macular hole (MH), rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), and foveal retinal detachment (FRD). Adjusted logistic regression estimated odds by myopia severity and spherical equivalent. Mean age at diagnosis was compared across groups.

RESULTS

Retinal complications occurred at younger ages with increasing myopia severity. Compared to non-myopes, myopic, highly myopic, and severely myopic patients had 2.45 (95% CI: 2.36-2.55), 2.46 (95% CI: 2.31-2.62), and 8.15 (95% CI: 7.17-9.27) times higher odds, respectively, of developing any retinal complication. Per diopter increase in myopia, the odds of each complication increased: CNV (OR 1.11; 95% CI: 1.09-1.12), MMD (OR 1.22; 95% CI: 1.18-1.25), foveoschisis (OR 1.22; 95% CI: 1.16-1.28), MH (OR 1.06; 95% CI: 1.05-1.08), FRD (OR 1.23; 95% CI: 1.16-1.32), and RRD (OR 1.10; 95% CI: 1.10-1.11). In severe myopes, odds were markedly elevated: CNV (OR 22.90), MMD (OR 60.19), foveoschisis (OR 102.98), MH (OR 6.69), FRD (OR 22.72), and RRD (OR 6.84).

CONCLUSIONS

Myopia is independently associated with higher odds of retinal diseases, and this risk increases incrementally with severity. These findings support a dose-response relationship and highlight the importance of early risk stratification, tailored monitoring, and timely referral in patients with high and severe myopia.