The Global Myopia Epidemic: Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, and Strategies for Control

With myopia projected to affect nearly half the world’s population by 2050, this chapter reviews the epidemiological trends driving the global myopia epidemic and examines the current understanding of environmental, genetic, and optical mechanisms underlying axial elongation. It provides a critical appraisal of evidence-based myopia control interventions — including atropine pharmacotherapy, orthokeratology, and defocus-incorporating optical devices — and discusses public health frameworks for early intervention and long-term management of high myopia and its sight-threatening complications.