Is myopia hereditary?
Jun 29, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Chen You
Introduction
Myopia is generally hereditary. For instance, most patients with congenital hereditary myopia have a familial history, and the inheritance pattern is autosomal recessive. Most affected children develop myopia before age 3–5 and should undergo relevant examinations as soon as possible to enable timely intervention. However, high myopia (≥600 diopters) has already progressed to pathological changes and also exhibits a certain degree of heritability.
In recent years, the number of people with myopia has been steadily increasing. Individuals with myopia experience significant blurriness when viewing nearby objects, causing considerable inconvenience in daily life. Consequently, many myopic individuals hope their children will not inherit the condition. So, is myopia hereditary?
Is Myopia Hereditary?
Mild to moderate myopia may have a genetic component. For instance, most cases of congenital hereditary myopia exhibit familial inheritance, typically following an autosomal recessive pattern. Affected individuals often develop myopia before age 3–5 and should undergo timely ophthalmic evaluation and early intervention. However, high myopia (≥600 diopters) involves structural changes in the eye and also carries a certain degree of heritability. The risk of inheriting high myopia is significantly higher when both parents are highly myopic compared to when only one parent is affected. Moreover, greater parental myopia severity correlates with increased likelihood and severity of inherited myopia—though heredity does not guarantee 100% transmission.
Nutritional supplementation plays a supportive role in slowing progression and preventing worsening of myopia. Foods rich in lutein—such as kiwifruit, blueberries, and spinach—help nourish the retina and alleviate visual fatigue. Similarly, vitamin A–rich foods—including animal liver, carrots, meat, and eggs—also support retinal health. Increasing dietary calcium intake strengthens the sclera and helps inhibit axial elongation of the eye, thereby delaying myopia progression; dairy products are excellent sources. Conversely, myopic individuals should limit intake of overly sweet foods, as high-sugar diets can soften the sclera and potentially accelerate myopia development.
Patients are advised to avoid excessive eye strain, ensure adequate rest, and refrain from staying up late. We hope this information proves helpful.
