Rising burden of myopia among South Korean young adults based on 13-year trends, associated factors, and projections to 2050.

ABSTRACT: To investigate long-term and projected trends of myopia and high myopia among young South Korean males and to evaluate associated sociodemographic risk factors. A repeated cross-sectional analysis was conducted using medical records from 4,063,091 19-year-old conscripts between 2011 and 2023. Logistic regression identified myopia risk factors, while linear regression assessed temporal trends. Projection modeling estimated future prevalence through 2050. Myopia prevalence increased from 50.6% in 2011 to 59.8% in 2023, and high myopia from 14.3% to 17.7%. Higher education was strongly associated with both conditions (P < 0.001), yet the gap narrowed. In 2011, odds of myopia and high myopia were over threefold higher in the most educated versus least educated groups (OR = 3.20 and OR = 3.03),

SUBMITTER: Lee Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12816136 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature