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Higher axial length, spherical equivalent associated with uncorrectable visual impairment
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Subjects with higher axial length and spherical equivalent were more likely to develop uncorrectable visual impairments, according to a study.
The cross-sectional study included 15,693 subjects of European descent culled from large population studies conducted in the Netherlands. Subjects had axial lengths ranging from 15.3 mm to 37.8 mm and spherical equivalent ranging from –25 D to +14 D. Axial length was greater than 26 mm in 819 individuals, and spherical equivalent was –6 D or worse in 796 individuals.
For individuals age 75 years and older, the cumulative incidence of visual impairment was 90% if the subject’s axial length was 30 mm or greater. If the axial length was between 24 mm and 26 mm, the cumulative incidence was 3.8%.
Subjects who were 75 years of age and older with a spherical equivalent of –6 D or worse had a cumulative risk of visual impairment of 39%, compared with a cumulative risk of 5.7% for those who were 60 years of age or younger with a spherical equivalent of –6 D or worse.
“The risk of visual impairment was associated with axial length and spherical equivalent and reached the highest values for persons with high myopia, in particular for eyes with an axial length of 30 mm or greater. Our projections show that, given increasing axial lengths, myopia will bring major threats to the visual health of the public in many societies,” the researchers wrote in the study.
Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.
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Tideman JWL, et al. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2016;doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2016.4009.
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