Tailored management strategies are crucial for addressing the distinct challenges presented by degenerative myopia and mitigating its impact on visual health, the authors noted in this study. Photo: Alia Cappellani, OD. Click image to enlarge.

In new research presented at ARVO 2024, researchers delved into the complexities of degenerative myopia and the increased occurrence of ocular complications compared to non-pathological myopia. They found that degenerative myopia patients showed elevated rates of retinal detachments, glaucoma, age-related cataracts, dry eye syndrome and retinal neovascularization.

A total of 1,211,460 myopic patients and 25,440 patients with degenerative myopia were identified in a health database. Data included demographic details and the prevalence of complications in the following five years. Statistical tests were computed to assess the prevalence of various complications resulting from myopia and degenerative myopia.

Retinal detachments and breaks occurred in 2.1% of myopic patients, significantly lower than the 12.6% observed in degenerative myopia. The latter group also exhibited a higher incidence of glaucoma at 17.5% compared to 7.9% in myopic patients. Age-related cataracts were more prevalent in degenerative myopia (19.3%) compared to myopia (12.2%), while dry eye syndrome was more pronounced in degenerative myopia (14.7%) compared to myopia (9.1%). Myopic patients displayed a lower prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (1.0%) compared to degenerative myopia (4.4%). Notably, the rate of retinal neovascularization (3.2% in myopia vs. 8.9% in degenerative myopia) was significantly higher in the degenerative myopia group.

“Examining data from 1.2 million individuals, we discovered that degenerative myopia presents a significantly higher risk of ocular complications compared to general myopia,” the authors concluded in their ARVO abstract. “Patients with degenerative myopia demonstrated elevated rates of retinal detachments, glaucoma, age-related cataracts, dry eye syndrome and retinal neovascularization. These findings underscore the urgency of tailored management strategies for degenerative myopia, emphasizing the need for specialized approaches to mitigate its impact on visual health. Recognizing these distinct challenges is crucial in developing effective interventions and enhancing overall patient care in the realm of eye health.”

Original abstract content ©2024 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.