Myopia and skin cancer are inversely correlated: results of the Busselton Healthy Ageing Study

Franchina, Maria; Yazar, Seyhan; Hunter, Michael; Gajdatsy, Adam; deSousa, Jean-Louis; Hewitt, Alex W; Mackey, David A

doi:10.5694/mja14.00086

Topics

To the Editor: Myopia is a major public health problem, and is increasing in prevalence and severity.1 The complications of high myopia (defined as a spherical equivalent [SE] > 6.00 diopters [D] or axial length > 26.5 mm) can be sight-threatening.2

1 Centre of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Western Australia and Lions Eye Institute, Perth, WA.
2 Busselton Health Study Centre, Busselton Population Medical Research Institute, Busselton, WA.
3 Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC.

Correspondence: David.Mackey@lei.org.au

Acknowledgements:

We are grateful to the community of Busselton for their ongoing support and participation. The BHAS is supported by grants from the Government of Western Australia and the City of Busselton.

Competing interests: No relevant disclosures.

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