Children with higher myopia show increased peripheral retinal findings

Peripheral retinal pathology is present across all refractive error groups but is more common in children with higher levels of myopia, according to a study.

In this retrospective study, researchers reviewed records from 874 pediatric patients seen in a primary care optometry clinic.

Overall, abnormal retinal findings were identified in 177 patients (20.2%), while retinal pathology was diagnosed in 55 patients (6.3%). The frequency of abnormal findings increased as myopia severity worsened. Among patients with ≥3 diopters of myopia, 44.8% had at least one abnormal finding.

Statistical analysis showed significant associations between myopia category and both abnormal retinal findings and retinal pathology (P < 0.0001 for both). Children with ≥3 diopters of myopia had an 11.5-fold higher likelihood of peripheral retinal pathology detection compared with children without myopia.

Reference
Ollinger MC, Bodack MI, Bromley MI. Peripheral retinal findings in a pediatric primary care optometry clinic and their associations with myopia: A 3-year retrospective review. Optom Vis Sci. 2026;103(3):e70006. doi: 10.1002/ovs2.70006. PMID: 42020344.