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Abstract
To compare US population prevalence estimates for myopia in 1971-1972 and 1999-2004.
The 1971-1972 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey provided the earliest
nationally representative estimates for US myopia prevalence; myopia was diagnosed
by an algorithm using either lensometry, pinhole visual acuity, and presenting visual
acuity (for presenting visual acuity > or =20/40) or retinoscopy (for presenting visual
acuity < or =20/50). Using a similar method for diagnosing myopia, we examined data
from the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to determine whether
myopia prevalence had changed during the 30 years between the 2 surveys.
Using the 1971-1972 method, the estimated prevalence of myopia in persons aged 12
to 54 years was significantly higher in 1999-2004 than in 1971-1972 (41.6% vs 25.0%,
respectively; P < .001). Prevalence estimates were higher in 1999-2004 than in 1971-1972
for black individuals (33.5% vs 13.0%, respectively; P < .001) and white individuals
(43.0% vs 26.3%, respectively; P < .001) and for all levels of myopia severity (>-2.0
diopters [D]: 17.5% vs 13.4%, respectively [P < .001]; < or =-2.0 to >-7.9 D: 22.4%
vs 11.4%, respectively [P < .001]; < or =-7.9 D: 1.6% vs 0.2%, respectively [P < .001]).
When using similar methods for each period, the prevalence of myopia in the United
States appears to be substantially higher in 1999-2004 than 30 years earlier. Identifying
modifiable risk factors for myopia could lead to the development of cost-effective
interventional strategies.