A study based in Australia recently found genetic associations between myopia and  intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). When assessed genetically, the researchers found the mean spherical equivalent refractive error was negatively associated with retinal detachment.

The analysis included 4,257 patients with retinal detachment and 39,181 controls from the UK Biobank cohort. The study identified two novel genes associated with retinal detachment: COL22A1 and FAT3. In addition, for each 6.00D decrease in mean spherical equivalent refractive error (from emmetropia to high myopia), RRD increased 7.2-fold. For each 1mm Hg increase in IOP, also assessed genetically, the risk of RRD increased by 8%.

The study authors concluded that their results add weight to existing evidence suggesting that myopia control efforts may help prevent RRD.