Myopia in the United States
Myopia prevalence in the United States has roughly doubled since the 1970s. NHANES data indicate approximately 42% of Americans are now myopic — up from ~25% in 1971–72. While this remains well below East Asian rates, the absolute burden is substantial: over 130 million Americans are myopic. The US is also notable for having the only FDA-approved soft contact lens for myopia control in children — MiSight® 1 day, cleared in 2019 for ages 8–12.
The clinical picture
The US increase is driven by the same environmental factors seen globally: reduced outdoor time, increased near-work, and screen exposure. The US stands out for ethnic heterogeneity — Asian-American subgroups (Chinese, Korean, South Asian descent) approach East Asian prevalence rates (>70% in some cohorts), while rates in non-Hispanic white Americans are closer to European levels. This makes US national averages less clinically useful than ethnicity-stratified data for individual patient counselling.
Prevalence by group
| Population | Prevalence | Source |
|---|---|---|
| All US adults (≥12yr) | ~42% | NHANES 1999–2004 |
| Non-Hispanic white | ~35% | NHANES subgroup analysis |
| Hispanic American | ~40% | NHANES subgroup |
| Asian-American | 60–80% | Multiple cohort studies |
| African-American | ~33% | NHANES subgroup |
Regulatory landscape
The US has the most defined regulatory pathway for myopia control of any country. MiSight® 1 day (CooperVision) received FDA 510(k) clearance in 2019 — the only soft contact lens with a specific myopia control indication in the US. Orthokeratology is used off-label for myopia control. Low-dose atropine (0.01–0.05%) is compounded and widely used but has no FDA approval for myopia control. DIMS and HALT spectacle lenses (MiyoSmart, Stellest) are CE-marked but not FDA-cleared, limiting their formal use in the US.
Calculate myopia progression risk
MiSight® is FDA-approved from age 8. Enter your patient's data to calculate current axial length percentile and projected adult prescription with and without MiSight or other management.
Open calculator →Vitale S et al. Prevalence of myopia in the United States. Arch Ophthalmol. 2009;127(12):1632–1639. doi:10.1001/archophthalmol.2009.322
NHANES 1999–2004 cycloplegic refraction data.
Holden BA et al. Ophthalmology. 2016;123(5):1036–1042. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2016.01.006
FDA 510(k) K191030 — MiSight® 1 day myopia control clearance 2019.
This page presents published epidemiological data — not primary measurements by MyopiaTracker. Figures carry the uncertainty of their source studies. This page does not constitute medical advice. MyopiaTracker is a decision-support tool — not a diagnostic device.