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Public Health Impact of Pathologic Myopia

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Pathologic Myopia

Abstract

Pathologic myopia, sometimes referred as ‘malignant myopia’ or ‘degenerative myopia’, is a major growing public health problem worldwide. This chapter discusses the critical public health impact of pathologic myopia and its related ocular complications, such as glaucoma, cataract and retinal and macular changes. Specifically, the chapter elucidates the current epidemiological impact of pathologic myopia. The condition is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide and its prevalence is rising. The condition also negatively impacts on patients’ quality of life, particularly vision-related activity limitation. Though data are scarce and further research is required on the true financial impact of the disease on patients and society, data extrapolation and estimates indicate that the direct and indirect economic impact is substantial. This chapter describes how pathologic myopia is shaped by the social determinants of health. The social determinants of health in turn produce comprehensive understanding of the disease pattern and concurrently identify who in the population are most affected or at high risk. Whilst the exact pathogenesis of pathologic myopia is still being unravelled by scientists and clinicians, this chapter proposes strategic ways which potentially could minimise the impact of pathologic myopia on public health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Services Research Unit, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Level 5, 11 Third Hospital Avenue, Singapore, 168751, Singapore

    Peggy Pei-Chia Chiang MIPH (Hons), PhD

  2. Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Peggy Pei-Chia Chiang MIPH (Hons), PhD

  3. General Practice and Primary Health Care Academic Centre, University of Melbourne Australia, Melbourne, Australia

    Peggy Pei-Chia Chiang MIPH (Hons), PhD

  4. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne, 32 Gisborne Street East, Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia

    Eva Fenwick MA, PhD

  5. Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Eva Fenwick MA, PhD & Ecosse L. Lamoureux MSc, PhD

  6. Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore

    Chiu Ming Gemmy Cheung MBBS & Ecosse L. Lamoureux MSc, PhD

  7. Vitreo-Retinal Service, Singapore National Eye Centre, 11 Third Hospital Avenue, Singapore, 168751, Singapore

    Chiu Ming Gemmy Cheung MBBS

  8. Office of Clinical Sciences, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore, 8 College Road Level 4, Singapore, 169857, Singapore

    Ecosse L. Lamoureux MSc, PhD

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  1. Peggy Pei-Chia Chiang MIPH (Hons), PhD
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  3. Chiu Ming Gemmy Cheung MBBS
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  4. Ecosse L. Lamoureux MSc, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ecosse L. Lamoureux MSc, PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Vitreous, Retina, Macula Consultants of New York, New York, New York, USA

    Richard F. Spaide

  2. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan

    Kyoko Ohno-Matsui

  3. Department of Clinical Ophthalmology, Columbia University School of Medicine, LuEsther T. Mertz Retinal Research Center, New York, New York, USA

    Lawrence A. Yannuzzi

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Chiang, P.PC., Fenwick, E., Cheung, C.M.G., Lamoureux, E.L. (2014). Public Health Impact of Pathologic Myopia. In: Spaide, R., Ohno-Matsui, K., Yannuzzi, L. (eds) Pathologic Myopia. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8338-0_6

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