Adolescents who have myopia appear to have up to a twofold higher prevalence of anxiety and mood disorders vs. their peers who do not have myopia, according to a recent study in Eye. This is depsite comorbidities, such as sex and visual acuity.

Specifically, the odds ratios (ORs) for anxiety rose from 1.38 (1.31–1.46) to 1.93 (1.73–2.15) across mild to severe myopia, while the ORs for mood disorders increased from 1.27 (1.17–1.37) to 1.81 (1.54–2.13). This link remained in both sexes who had a best-corrected visual acuity ≥ 6/9 and were otherwise healthy.

The cross-sectional study was comprised of 891,501 Israeli adolescents (ages 16 to 20), and the researchers classified myopia using non-cycloplegic right eye spherical equivalent measurements, which fell into the categories of mild (−0.75 ≥ SEQ > −3 D), moderate (−3 ≥ SEQ > −6D), and severe (SEQ ≤ −6D).

A psychiatric consultant confirmed the presence of anxiety and mood disorders.

The study’s researchers acknowledge the following study imitations: the cross-sectional design, which prevents causality assessment, and failure to investigate the effects of spectacle wear, contact lens use, and refractive surgery.

Read the full study, here.