Published through 2026-11-03 06:01 UTC · Automated cloud publishing.
Study shows stable myopia rates in Germany since 2001
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A study conducted by the University Hospital Freiburg and published in Frontiers in Public Health indicates that myopia prevalence among children and adolescents in Germany has remained stable between 2001 and 2025. The research, reported by DOZ Verlag on October 17, 2026, analyzed data spanning over two decades to assess trends in refractive errors within this demographic. Unlike global narratives often suggesting a sharp increase in childhood myopia, these findings suggest a plateau in the German context during the specified period. The study provides evidence that the rate of myopia development in young people in Germany did not significantly rise from 2001 through 2025. This stability contrasts with some international reports indicating growing myopia rates, highlighting potential regional differences or specific public health factors in Germany. The analysis underscores the importance of localized epidemiological studies rather than assuming uniform global trends for all regions. Further details regarding the specific methodology and sample size were partially truncated in the initial report summary, but the core conclusion remains focused on the lack of significant upward trend in myopia prevalence over the last quarter-century.
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- DOZ VerlagFreiburg Study Finds Stable Myopia Rates in German Youth Since 2001
A study by the University Hospital Freiburg, published in Frontiers in Public Health, indicates that myopia prevalence among children and adolescents in Germany has remained stable between 2001 and 2025. Analyzing approximately 1.25 million eyeglass prescriptions for about 437,700 individuals aged three to 18, researchers found no increase in myopic prescriptions, with roughly 40 percent of youth affected. The findings contradict assumptions of a global myopia epidemic, attributing higher rates in East Asia primarily to intensive schooling and limited outdoor time rather than digitalization or pandemic effects. Separately, a Shanghai-based retrospective analysis of 182 young adults (aged 18–25) with high myopia revealed that progression can continue into adulthood, though rates decline with age; no clear link to pathological myopia was established.