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To determine the prevalence and progression of myopic retinopathy in an older community-based population sample.

Population-based epidemiologic study.

Eligible residents aged 49 years or older (n = 3654) who attended the Blue Mountains Eye Study, west of Sydney, Australia.

Participants had a detailed eye examination including measurement of logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity, standardized refraction, and retinal stereophotography. All patients were invited to attend follow-up examinations after 5 years.

Myopic retinopathy was defined to include staphyloma, lacquer cracks, Fuchs’ spot and myopic chorioretinal atrophy. β-peripapillary atrophy was assessed separately.

Signs of myopic retinopathy were found in 67 eyes from 44 participants (1.2%), a prevalence of 1.4% in women …