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What Percentage of People Experience Rapid Myopia Progression?

Rapid myopia progression means nearsightedness worsens by more than 1 diopter (D) in a year. This level of change occurred in 18% of people with myopia aged 15 or younger, compared with 7% of those older than 15, in a South Indian clinical sample of 6,984 people aged 1 to 30. These figures are one estimate rather than a universal rate, and the findings show that prescription changes tend to be larger in younger age groups.

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What Percentage of People Experience Rapid Myopia Progression?

Rapid myopia progression means nearsightedness worsens by more than 1 diopter (D) in a year. This level of change occurred in 18% of people with myopia aged 15 or younger, compared with 7% of those older than 15, in a South Indian clinical sample of 6,984 people aged 1 to 30. These figures are one estimate rather than a universal rate, and the findings show that prescription changes tend to be larger in younger age groups.

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How Common Is Rapid Myopia Progression?

Rapid myopia progression affects a larger share of younger people with nearsightedness than older people in the available research. In the South Indian clinical sample, 18% of people aged 15 or younger had a prescription change greater than 1 D in a year, compared with 7% of those older than 15. A separate nationwide French analysis used a lower threshold, counting changes greater than 0.50 D per year. By that definition, progression occurred in 18.2% of people aged 14 to 15 and 13.9% of those aged 16 to 17. Do not compare these percentages directly because the studies used different definitions of progression.

How Does Myopia Progression Change With Age?

Myopia usually progresses faster in younger children, with prescription changes tending to become smaller as people get older. Among people who received their first glasses prescription before age 10, the median yearly change was -0.50 D. The median change was -0.38 D for those who first received a glasses prescription at ages 10 to 12, -0.19 D at ages 13 to 15, and -0.09 D at ages 16 to 18. A negative number here means the prescription shifted toward stronger nearsightedness. These figures describe the middle result in each age group, not the exact change every person will experience.

Can Myopia Continue to Progress in Adults?

Yes, nearsightedness can continue to worsen in adulthood, even though progression often slows with age. In a five-year study of adult soft contact lens wearers, 21.3% experienced a prescription change of at least 1.00 D toward greater nearsightedness. The percentage was higher among younger adults: 34.9% of those aged 20 to 25 experienced this amount of change, compared with 19.6% of those aged 25 to 30. These results apply to that group, not every adult with myopia. Other adult data also point to continued progression between ages 20 and 50, with most of the change occurring between ages 20 and 30.

What Can These Statistics Tell You About Your Prescription?

Your own prescription history is more useful for understanding your myopia progression than a population average alone. Research shows different rates of change across age groups, but people of the same age can still have different experiences. A yearly change of 0.50 D, for example, is not the same as a change greater than 1 D, and the period used to measure that change matters. Comparing your current prescription with previous eye exam results can help show whether your nearsightedness is changing. An eye care professional can explain what those changes mean for you and whether closer monitoring is appropriate.

Learn More About Rapid Myopia Progression

What counts as rapid myopia progression?

In the South Indian clinical sample, rapid progression meant a prescription change greater than 1 D in a year. Other research uses different thresholds, so check which threshold each source uses for rapid progression before comparing percentages.

Is rapid myopia progression more common in children than adults?

Yes, the available findings show faster progression in younger age groups. In the clinical sample, 18% of people with myopia aged 15 or younger had a change greater than 1 D in a year, compared with 7% of those older than 15.

Can myopia get worse after age 20?

Yes, myopia can continue to progress after age 20. Adult data showed continued prescription changes between ages 20 and 50, with most progression occurring between ages 20 and 30.

When to See Your Doctor

Schedule an eye exam when your vision becomes blurry or your current prescription no longer seems to provide clear vision. Regular follow-up visits can help your eye care professional track changes in your prescription and decide whether you need further monitoring.

References

Brennan, N. A., Cheng, X., & Bullimore, M. A. (2024). Adult Myopia Progression. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2802275. Accessed October 22, 2026.

Bullimore, M. A., Jones, L. A., Moeschberger, M. L., Zadnik, K., & Payor, R. E. (2002). A retrospective study of myopia progression in adult contact lens wearers. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 43, 2110?2113. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12095806/. Accessed October 22, 2026.

Ducloux, A., Marillet, S., Ingrand, P., Bullimore, M. A., Bourne, R. R. A., & Leveziel, N. (2022). Progression of myopia in teenagers and adults: a nationwide longitudinal study of a prevalent cohort. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10176358/. Accessed October 22, 2026.

Polling, J. R., Klaver, C., & Tideman, J. W. (2022). Myopia progression from wearing first glasses to adult age: the DREAM Study. British Journal of Ophthalmology, 106, 820. https://bjo.bmj.com/content/106/6/820. Accessed October 22, 2026.

Verkicharla, P. K., Kammari, P., & Das, A. V. (2020). Myopia progression varies with age and severity of myopia. PLOS ONE, 15(11), e0241759. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0241759. Accessed October 22, 2026.