Burden of Uncorrected Myopia on APAC Healthcare Systems

Uncorrected myopia remains the leading cause of distance vision impairment globally, and its rising prevalence could cost billions of dollars in lost productivity in the coming decades. A hallmark study by the Brien Holden Vision Institute (BHVI) in Australia predicts that by 2050, over half the world’s population or 52 per cent will be myopic. Moreover, management and control of myopia is a relatively new concept in many countries. Let’s explore what possible steps can be undertaken to address this affliction.

- Hamish Thrum

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently flagged myopia as a global public health issue, estimating annual global costs of productivity losses associated with vision impairment from uncorrected myopia at $244 billion in 2015. This will increase significantly in the future if it is not addressed. Individuals with high myopia (-5.00 diopters or more) face a greater risk of sight-threatening disorders later in life including glaucoma, cataract, retinal detachment, and myopic macular degeneration, which is an irreversible condition that can cause severe vision impairment or permanent blindness. The risk of visual impairment increases 3.4 times with myopia between 6.00 diopters and 10.00 diopters, and 22 times when above 10.00 diopters.

Myopia in the Asia Pacific

Studies have shown the increased intensity of educational pressures in young children has coincided with the rapid rise in myopia cases in Asian countries in recent decades. In many East Asian countries, myopia is a major public health concern that affects between 80 and 90 per cent of high school graduates, of which about 10 to 20 per cent have sight-threatening pathologic myopia.

The early onset and rapid progression of myopia in Asia has been linked to increased time spent on near-work activities and classwork, coupled with limited time spent outdoors; both of which have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. According to one Hong Kong study, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the estimated one-year incidence of myopia is 28 per cent, 27 per cent, and 26 per cent for six, seven and eight-year-olds respectively, compared to 17 per cent, 15 per cent, and 15 per cent before the pandemic.