Methodology of the ZOC-BHVI High Myopia Cohort Study: The Onset and Progression of Myopic Pathologies and Associated Risk Factors in Highly Myopic Chinese

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The increasing prevalence of high myopia and its associated pathologies has raised challenges to ophthalmic services. This project aims to explore the onset and progression of myopic pathologies in highly myopic eyes through a prospective research cohort established in South China.

Methods: Patients with high myopia (sphere ≤ −6.00 D) visiting the optometric clinic of Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center (ZOC) were invited to participate in the baseline examinations and follow-up visit over a 10-year period. People having secondary myopia, history of any refractive surgery, significant ocular media opacity, or other severe health problems were excluded. The measurements included visual acuity, ocular biometry, visual function, cycloplegic refraction, fundus imaging, ocular shape by MRI, blood tests and questionnaires.

Results: A total of 890 participants completed the baseline examinations, with a mean age at baseline of 22.7 ± 12.4 years. The mean spherical equivalent at baseline was 10.13 ± 3.65 D, and the mean axial length (AL) was 27.52 ± 1.63 mm. The older subjects tended to have more severe myopia and longer ALs.

Conclusion: The study will provide new knowledge on the relationship between high myopia and pathological changes such as myopic macular degeneration and staphyloma.

KEYWORDS:

• Chinese
• high myopia
• myopic macular degeneration
• pathological myopia
• prospective study

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the writing and content of this article.

Funding

Our study was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds of the State Key Laboratory in Ophthalmology, National Natural Science Foundation of China [81420108008,81271037], Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province [2013B20400003] and a grant from Brien Holden Vision Institute, Australia. Dr He receives support from the University of Melbourne Research at Melbourne Accelerator Program Professorship. The Centre for Eye Research Australia receives operational infrastructural support from the Victorian government. Sponsor or funding organization had no role in the design or conduct of this research.

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Additional information

Funding

Our study was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds of the State Key Laboratory in Ophthalmology, National Natural Science Foundation of China [81420108008,81271037], Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province [2013B20400003] and a grant from Brien Holden Vision Institute, Australia. Dr He receives support from the University of Melbourne Research at Melbourne Accelerator Program Professorship. The Centre for Eye Research Australia receives operational infrastructural support from the Victorian government. Sponsor or funding organization had no role in the design or conduct of this research.