McCarty C A, Livingston P M, Taylor H R
Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Australia.
J Refract Surg. 1997 May-Jun;13(3):229-34. doi: 10.3928/1081-597X-19970501-08.
We reviewed the research on the prevalence of myopia in the adult population to compare the refractive distribution of patients being treated with excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy to correct myopia, and assess the potential market for excimer laser surgery.
All published reports of myopia prevalence in adults were reviewed, as well as the prevalence in the Melbourne Visual Impairment Project and the distribution of refractive errors treated by the Melbourne Excimer Laser Group in 1994.
A large population-based study of people aged 4 to 74 years in the U.S. showed that 43% had low myopia (less than -5.00 diopters (D)), 3.2% had high myopia (-5.01 to -10.00 D), and 0.2% had extreme myopia (more than -10.00 D). In Asian populations these proportions may be much higher and in African and Pacific island groups, much lower. In the Melbourne Visual Impairment Project, we found the prevalence of low myopia was 21%, high myopia 2%, and extreme myopia 0.3%. A single excimer laser has operated for 3 years in Melbourne. Of those treated, 45% had low myopia, 42% high myopia, and 13% extreme myopia. Compared to low myopes, high myopes were ten times (OR: 9.8; Confidence interval: 6.69 to 12.91) more likely to have excimer laser treatment and extreme myopes were 16 times (OR: 16.40; Confidence interval: 12.53 to 20.27) more likely.
Although there are many more people with lower amounts of myopia in the population and the clinical results have been more predictable after one procedure in this group, the perceived benefits of excimer laser treatment may be greater for those with higher amounts of myopia, thus influencing their decision to undergo excimer laser surgery to correct their myopia. There is clearly a large market potential for excimer laser surgery in people with low myopia.
我们回顾了关于成人近视患病率的研究，以比较接受准分子激光屈光性角膜切削术矫正近视患者的屈光分布情况，并评估准分子激光手术的潜在市场。
我们回顾了所有已发表的关于成人近视患病率的报告，以及墨尔本视力损害项目中的患病率和1994年墨尔本准分子激光治疗组所治疗的屈光不正分布情况。
一项针对美国4至74岁人群的大规模基于人群的研究表明，43%的人患有低度近视（低于-5.00屈光度（D）），3.2%的人患有高度近视（-5.01至-10.00 D），0.2%的人患有极度近视（高于-10.00 D）。在亚洲人群中，这些比例可能要高得多，而在非洲和太平洋岛屿人群中则要低得多。在墨尔本视力损害项目中，我们发现低度近视的患病率为21%，高度近视的患病率为2%，极度近视的患病率为0.3%。墨尔本有一台准分子激光仪已运行了3年。在接受治疗的患者中，45%患有低度近视，42%患有高度近视，13%患有极度近视。与低度近视患者相比，高度近视患者接受准分子激光治疗的可能性高10倍（比值比：9.8；置信区间：6.69至12.91），极度近视患者接受准分子激光治疗的可能性高16倍（比值比：16.40；置信区间：12.53至20.27）。
尽管人群中近视度数较低的人更多，且该组患者单次手术后的临床结果更可预测，但对于近视度数较高的人来说，准分子激光治疗的预期益处可能更大，从而影响他们接受准分子激光手术矫正近视的决定。显然，低度近视患者接受准分子激光手术具有很大的市场潜力。
