# Prevalence of myopic eyes in private practice and public care services in Brazil: 11 years of retrospective analysis

## TL;DR

This study analyzed myopia prevalence in Brazil over 11 years, finding no significant increase in myopic eyes in private and public clinics.

## Contribution

The study provides a long-term comparative analysis of myopia prevalence in private and public eye care services in Brazil.

## Key findings

- The prevalence of myopic eyes ranged from 20.7% to 32.4% over the study period.
- High myopia prevalence varied between 1.6% and 3.3% during the same period.
- Myopia prevalence showed a statistically significant increase based on age group.

## Abstract

This study aimed to examine the prevalence of myopic eyes over 11 years
(2008-2018) in a private clinic and a public assistance service.

We retrospectively evaluated 6332 individuals (12,664 eyes) between 5 and 25
years old, seen at a private clinic-CEMO (2,663 individuals) and a public
service-HOIP (3,669 individuals) from 2008 to 2018. We evaluated the
prevalence of myopic eyes (EE ≤-0.50) and high myopic eyes (EE
≤-6.00).

Sex and services did not show statistical differences. The variation in the
prevalence of myopic and high myopic eyes showed a random pattern during the
study period (this prevalence could not be increased). Prevalences ranged
from 20.7% (in 2017) to 32.4% (in 2015) for myopic eyes and from 1.6% (in
2009 and 2016) to 3.3% (in 2015) for eyes with high myopia. The prevalence
of myopia showed a statistically significant increase based on the age
group.

The prevalence of myopic eyes did not increase in our study. The mean
prevalence of myopic eyes was similar in the private clinic and public
service.