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.
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