More younger adults in Singapore developing glaucoma, likely because of untreated myopia

SINGAPORE – More people in Singapore are diagnosed with eye conditions such as glaucoma at a younger age, in their 40s and 50s.

This may be due to untreated myopia in these earlier generations of Singaporeans, who did not have many treatment options in their growing-up years. More studies are ongoing to establish the link between myopia and glaucoma, including whether treating myopia could prevent the onset of glaucoma.

Studies have shown that untreated myopia leads to elongation of the eyeballs, and such structural changes may lead to the weakening of the eye and optic nerves, leading to a higher risk of subsequent eye conditions.