Analysis of spectacle lens prescriptions shows no increase of myopia in Germany from 2000 to 2015

Abstract

To determine whether the prevalence and magnitude of myopia among children and young adults wearing spectacles has increased in Germany from 2000 to 2015. A total of 1,223,410 refraction values from 278,432 male and 333,273 female subjects between 5 and 30years of age were analyzed. All subjects had received anew pair of spectacles between 1January 2000 and 31December 2015. The parameter studied was the spherical equivalent averaged over both eyes of each subject (N= 611,705). In order to identify temporal changes, the entire period of 16years was divided into 4time intervals of 4years each. In the subjects three evaluation criteria were studied as afunction of age: a)the frequency of myopic subjects among all spectacle wearers, b)the mean spherical equivalent and c)the distribution of the individual spherical equivalents. a)The frequency of myopic corrections among all spectacle wearers did not increase from 2000 to 2015. At 5years of age, 9% of all children wearing glasses were myopic (≤-0.5 D) and 80% were hyperopic (≥+0.5 D). At the age of 10, 20 and 25years, 46%, 75% and 79%, respectively, of all spectacle wearers were myopic and 42%, 13% and 10% hyperopic. b)The mean spherical equivalent, averaged across all spectacle wearers of the same age, did not show a myopic shift from 2000 to 2015. At the age of5, 10.3 and 27years, the mean spherical equivalent all subjects wearing glasses was +1.74 D, 0.0 D and -1.91D. c)The refractive power distribution of the individual spherical equivalents did not change significantly from 2000 to 2015. Neither low nor high myopias were more abundant in the period 2012-2015 compared to the previous years. The frequency and the refractive power of myopia did not increase in Germany over the last 16years.