Trends in Prevalence of Myopia in Lithuania

Abstract

Background. Myopia (nearsightedness) is one of the refractive errors, when the image is focused in front of the retina instead of on the retina. It occurs if the eyeball is too long or the cornea and/or lens is too curved. Myopia is usually diagnosed before the age of 20 (in most cases, at 6–14 years of age) and it is associated with genetic and environmental risk factors. Aim. To assess changes in the prevalence of myopia in Lithuania during 2001–2020. Methods. Data on the prevalence of myopia (ICD-10 code H52.1) in Lithuania during 2001–2020 were obtained from the Institute of Hygiene. The prevalence of myopia in children and adults was calculated per 100 000 population. Changes in the prevalence in adults and children as well as girls and boys during 2001–2020 were assessed using Joinpoint regression analysis. Results. In 2020, the overall prevalence of myopia was 2838/100 000 population. The prevalence was significantly higher in children (7123/100,000 population) than in adults (1908/100 000 population)(Fig. 1). During 2001–2020 the average annual increase in myopia was higher among children (7.1%/year, p<0.001) than adults (2.4%/year, p=0.043). The prevalence of myopia in Lithuania has increased about two fold over 20 years. During 2001–2005, the prevalence of myopia among children increased by 20.8%/year (p<0.001). Between 2005 and 2018, disease growth rates slowed down but remained positive 5.9%/year (p<0.001). A sudden decrease was observed in the prevalence of myopia in adults (about 26%) and in children (about 16%) during 2020. When comparing the incidence of myopia in children, differences were observed between sexes. During 2001–2020, the average annual change in myopia was slightly higher among boys (8.2%/year) than girls (6.7%/year) (p<0.001). In 2020, the ratio of myopia between girls and boys was similar 1.3:1 (p>0.05). [...] Fig. 1. Morbidity between adults and children per 100 000 population Conclusion. The results show that the prevalence of myopia is on an upward trend. In recent years, a decrease in cases has been observed. This could be related to COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, when many healthcare facilities were closed and during that period myopia cases were not identified and registered.