Every Dioptre Matters

Explore how lifetime relative risk may rise as myopia becomes stronger

Higher levels of myopia are associated with a greater lifetime risk of certain eye conditions. This visual is designed to help parents understand why slowing myopia progression matters. It does not predict what will happen to an individual child.

Move the slider to explore risk at different myopia levels

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Myopic Maculopathy

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Relative to emmetropia. Risk rises steeply at higher myopia.

Retinal Detachment

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Relative to emmetropia. Risk tends to increase non-linearly.

Cataract

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Relative to emmetropia. Based on posterior subcapsular cataract risk.

Glaucoma

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Relative to emmetropia. Risk increases, but less sharply than some other conditions.

What this means in real life

These estimates are based on published population studies of visual impairment from myopic macular degeneration, primary open-angle glaucoma and retinal detachment in adults over 40.

Population studies suggest that as myopia becomes stronger, the lifetime risk of visual impairment from myopia-related eye disease rises. This visual shows absolute risk in a simple way, alongside the relative risk information above.

These figures reflect population-level estimates in adults over 40 and are not a prediction for an individual child.

This means the risk rises with stronger myopia, but most people will still not develop visual impairment from these conditions.

Important: This is an educational visual based on published population studies. It does not mean a condition will definitely occur, and it should not be used as a prediction for an individual child. The absolute-risk section reflects population-level estimates of visual impairment in adulthood and is intended to help explain why slowing myopia progression and axial length growth may reduce long-term risk.

Sources

This widget includes both relative-risk and absolute-risk communication based on published population studies and review materials on myopia-related eye disease and visual impairment. Risk estimates are intended to support balanced, educational conversations and do not constitute clinical advice.