Who Is Affected by Nearsightedness
Nearsightedness
most commonly begins in
childhood (between ages 6 and 12).1 Common nearsightedness (physiological
myopia) affects about 1 out of 4 adults.2
Severe
nearsightedness, called high myopia (error of 6
diopters or more), affects about 1 out of 6 people who are
nearsighted.2
Pathological myopia
is not common. The gradual damage to the retina caused by pathological myopia
seldom appears before age 20.
Citations
-
American Academy of Ophthalmology (2007).
Refractive Errors and Refractive Surgery (Preferred Practice Pattern). San Francisco: American Academy of Ophthalmology. Also
available online:
http://one.aao.org/CE/PracticeGuidelines/PPP.aspx.
-
Eye Diseases Prevalence Research Group (2004). The
prevalence of refractive errors among adults in the United States, western
Europe, and Australia. Archives of Ophthalmology,
122(4): 495–505.
|
By
|
Healthwise Staff |
|
Primary Medical Reviewer
|
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
|
Specialist Medical Reviewer
|
Christopher J. Rudnisky, MD, MPH, FRCSC - Ophthalmology |
|
Last Revised
|
June 24, 2011 |
Last Revised:
June 24, 2011
American Academy of Ophthalmology (2007).
Refractive Errors and Refractive Surgery (Preferred Practice Pattern). San Francisco: American Academy of Ophthalmology. Also
available online:
http://one.aao.org/CE/PracticeGuidelines/PPP.aspx.
Eye Diseases Prevalence Research Group (2004). The
prevalence of refractive errors among adults in the United States, western
Europe, and Australia. Archives of Ophthalmology,
122(4): 495–505.