Doctors warn untreated childhood myopia may lead to serious eye diseases later in life

Eye specialists in Singapore are seeing more patients developing glaucoma in their 40s and 50s, a trend linked to untreated myopia during childhood and early adulthood.

Younger Singaporeans Developing Glaucoma
Doctors in Singapore are increasingly diagnosing glaucoma among patients in their 40s and 50s.

Data from the Singapore National Eye Centre showed glaucoma surgeries for patients aged 40 to 49 rose from 22 cases in 2015 to 60 cases in 2025, while procedures for those aged 50 to 59 nearly doubled from 95 to 183 over the same period.

Untreated Myopia a Key Risk Factor
Experts say the trend is largely linked to untreated myopia in earlier generations of Singaporeans.

Severe short-sightedness can cause the eyeball to elongate, weakening the retina and optic nerve and increasing the risk of conditions such as glaucoma and long-term vision damage.

High Myopia Can Cause Serious Complications
Studies have found that high myopia—defined as 600 degrees or more of short-sightedness—can lead to complications including myopic macular degeneration.

Research from the Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases study found that about 36 percent of adults aged 40 to 80 have myopia, while around 6 percent suffer from high myopia.

New Myopia Society Formed to Raise Awareness
To address the growing issue, specialists have formed the Myopia Society of Singapore, bringing together ophthalmologists, optometrists, paediatricians and researchers.

The society aims to improve clinical guidelines, promote public awareness and encourage early intervention to slow myopia progression in children.

Early Treatment Can Prevent Future Vision Loss
Modern treatments such as myopia-control lenses and atropine eye drops can significantly slow the progression of myopia.

However, adoption remains low, with fewer than 10 percent of patients prescribed myopia-control lenses actually purchasing them, partly due to their higher cost compared with regular lenses.

While Singapore has made progress in reducing childhood myopia rates, specialists warn that the long-term consequences of severe myopia remain a major public health concern. Early detection and intervention will be key to preventing future generations from facing serious vision complications later in life.

Sources: Straits Times (2026) , Magzter (2026)

Keywords: Singapore Myopia Epidemic, Glaucoma Younger Patients Singapore, Singapore National Eye Centre Data, Myopia Society Singapore, High Myopia Complications