The Correlation between Myopia and Pathological Progression in Glaucoma

Abstract

In recent years, myopia and glaucoma have become two major threats to eye health and are also hot topics in ophthalmic disease research. Among the various areas of investigation, exploring the correlation between myopia and glaucoma lesions has become a core and high-priority research direction, given the growing clinical observation of their comorbidity. This paper systematically classifies and analyzes a large body of relevant studies published in recent years, aiming to synthesize the latest research progress. The analysis reveals that current research on the myopia-glaucoma correlation spans multiple dimensions, including epidemiological risk quantification, ocular structural changes, intraocular pressure regulation, genetic associations, and even racial differences. Relatively mature and consistent results have been obtained in key areas: for instance, how different degrees of myopia (especially high myopia) increase glaucoma risk, and what specific alterations myopia induces in ocular structures to promote glaucomatous damage. However, significant gaps persist in understanding genetic-level influences-only a handful of genes (e.g., SOX21, GSAP) have been preliminarily linked to both diseases, and the shared genetic pathways and regulatory mechanisms remain largely unelucidated. These findings not only help clarify the current state of research in this field but also provide clear guidance for future studies on the myopia-glaucoma correlation. Additionally, they offer valuable clinical clues for optimizing the early screening, diagnosis, and comprehensive management of patients with myopia-glaucoma comorbidity, ultimately contributing to better preservation of patients’ visual function.