Study Examines Risk Factors for Myopic Traction Maculopathy

In this study, the prevalence of MTM jumped after specific thresholds in age, SE and AL were crossed. These images from the study show four representative MTM lesions: (A) outer retinoschisis (white asterisk) and vitreomacular traction (white arrow); (B) ILM detachment (white asterisk) with an inner retinoschisis (white arrow) and a dome-shaped macula (white arrowhead); (C) lamellar macular hole (white asterisk) and an ERM (white arrow); (D) full-thickness macular hole (white asterisk) and an ERM (white arrow). Photo: Cheong KX, Jiang Y, Htoon HM, et al. Ophthalmol Sci. July 24, 2025. Click image to enlarge. The prevalence, characteristics, associations and visual outcomes of myopic traction maculopathy (MTM) in the general population have not been comprehensively described, with much variability among adult high myopes. A recent study published in Ophthalmology Science reported that the baseline prevalence of MTM was 4.6% among the participants (or 2.9% among eyes), all from central China. MTM was associated with a more myopic spherical equivalent (SE) refraction and longer axial length (AL) and was linked with myopic macular degeneration (MMD). Older adults were more likely to have traction maculopathy, and this condition was also significantly associated with poorer vision. In this study, the odds of having MTM was up to 12.77 times greater when myopic macular degeneration was present. “Greater refractive error, axial elongation and chorioretinal atrophy are all closely related factors in MTM, as they all contribute to mechanical eyeball stretching and retinal thinning,” the study authors wrote in their paper. “The development of MTM has also been ascribed to the weakness in attachments between the inner retina and sclera in areas with advanced chorioretinal atrophy in MMD.”Swept-source OCT was performed to detect retinoschisis, macular holes and/or foveal retinal detachment.Of 437 participants (839 eyes), MTM was observed in 20 participants or in 24 eyes. Overall, the whole cohort (64.7% female) had a mean age of 42.9 years, SE of -9.5D and AL of 27.3mm. Retinoschisis was the most common lesion (91.7%; 22/24 eyes with MTM).Epiretinal membrane, vitreomacular traction and internal limiting membrane detachment were found in up to half the eyes with MTM in this study. More than 90% of the eyes with maculopathy had posterior staphyloma, and almost none had a dome-shaped macula. Outer retinoschisis, inner limiting membrane detachment, posterior staphyloma and dome-shaped macula were significantly associated with a poorer best-corrected visual acuity. The researchers believe that these morphological features may have prognostic values for vision. Given the growing prevalence of pathologic myopia, particularly in Asia where this study was conducted, the researchers conclude by exhorting eye doctors to “evaluate the risk of MTM in individuals of high-risk profiles, particularly older adults with severe myopia.” Click here for the journal source. 1. Cheong KX, Jiang Y, Htoon HM, et al. Characteristics of myopic traction maculopathy in the Aier-SERI high myopia adult cohort study. Ophthalmol Sci. July 24, 2025. [Epub ahead of print]. This article was developed by the editorial staff in conjunction with experts in the field. In the process, AI may have been among the editorial tools used to meet the goals of human editors, who approved all content.