Study: young people receiving anti-inflammatory treatment develop myopia later

Scientists have explored a potential relationship between inflammation and myopia as part of research presented at the annual meeting of the Association of Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) in Denver, Colorado (3–7 May).

Researchers from University of Oklahoma College of Medicine compared refractive development among young people under the age of 22 with chronic inflammatory conditions – including juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), lupus erythematosus, and ankylosing spondylitis – to healthy age-matched subjects.

The patients with inflammatory conditions were all receiving treatment with anti-inflammatory agents.

The scientists found that the group receiving treatment for chronic inflammatory conditions demonstrated a significantly delayed onset and reduced rate of myopia progression when compared with the control group.

Dr Jody Summers, of the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, shared her surprise at the magnitude of the difference between the two groups.

“We discovered that children without underlying illnesses became myopic at about 10 years old, while those with JIA who were taking anti-inflammatory drugs didn’t become myopic until about 17 years old,” Summers said.

The findings are based on reviewing the medical records of around 200 patients under the age of 22. Around half of the study participants were healthy, while half were receiving treatment for inflammatory conditions.

If further research confirms the findings of the initial study, researchers will look to develop a treatment that reduces inflammation in the eye with the aim of slowing the development of myopia.

Summers described this potential development as a “game-changer.”

“If we could identify children who are at risk of becoming myopic or are just starting to become myopic, then we could start treatment early and potentially slow its progression. We’re excited to see what the next data set shows,” she said.