Approximately 1/5th of Irish 12- to 13-year-olds are myopic. Those affected will experience deterioration of their myopia for several more years, while at least another 1/5th may also develop myopia before adulthood. Myopia is not only inconvenient and costly, but is associated with higher risk of vision impairment. In 2006, complications of myopia were identified as the fourth commonest cause of registrable blindness in Ireland. (Kelliher, 2006 PMID 16488964). As the prevalence and severity of myopia in Ireland increases, so too will the number of people experiencing permanent vision loss. Newly developed treatments to slow myopia progression can limit the severity of myopia and hence prevent vision loss, but there is no national plan for prevention and early intervention in myopia, despite it being a common condition with significant quality of life impacts.
We will use a mix of epidemiological and electronic medical record (EMR) data to: 1) determine the changing profile of myopia in Ireland. 2) establish the proportion of vision loss in Ireland attributable to myopia in children and adults, 3) calculate the cost-benefit of interventions to slow or prevent myopia progression and 4) determine the eye care workforce needed to manage myopia.
We will develop a novel method for inferring the population distribution of refractive error from EMR data and estimate temporal changes in the myopia profile and the number of cases of vision loss in Ireland attributable to myopia. We will then conduct a cost-benefit evaluation of myopia management interventions and determine the workforce needed to meet myopia care demand. The project findings will be formulated into a national Myopia Management and Action Plan (Myopia MAP), that will prepare Ireland to provide optimal myopia care into the future and, as a result, prevent vision loss and improve the health and lives of Irish people.