Myopia-protective against diabetic retinopathy
Reviewed by Bheemanagouda Patil

This meta-analysis evaluates the current evidence of the relationship between myopia and diabetic retinopathy (DR) risk. A systematic search was performed up to April 2015. Three models were used to assess the association between myopia and risk of DR: axial length (AL) (per millimetre increase) and DR; myopia (myopia versus non-myopia) and DR; refractive error (RE) (per D decrease) and DR. A total of 11 studies that met the predefined criteria were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, longer AL (per millimetre increase) was associated with a significantly decreased risk of DR (combined OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.65–0.86; p<0.001); myopic eyes (myopia versus non-myopia) showed a lower risk of DR (combined OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.58–0.85; p<0.001). A greater degree of myopic RE (per D decrease) also revealed a significantly decreased risk of DR (combined OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.85–0.93; p<0.001). This meta-analysis suggests that both myopic refraction and longer AL are associated with a lower risk of DR.

Myopia and/or longer axial length are protective against diabetic retinopathy: a meta-analysis.
Fu Y, Geng D, Liu H, Che H.
ACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA
2016;94:346-52.