Hospital Vall d’Hebron launches Myopia Unit for severe nearsightedness as cases set to double by 2050
The Vall d’Hebron Hospital in Barcelona opened a dedicated Myopia Unit in September 2024 for patients with high myopia – defined as more than six diopters and an axial eye length over 26 mm. The unit was created by ophthalmologists Dr. Marta Castany (Glaucoma) and Dr. Ana Boixadera (Retina) with the support of Dr. Miguel Ángel Zapata, and offers multidisciplinary, high‑resolution examinations to improve diagnosis and prognosis.
Myopia is now the leading cause of irreversible vision loss among working‑age adults in Spain. Global prevalence is expected to rise from 20 % in 2000 to 50 % by 2050, increasing the risk of retinal complications, especially after age 50. The new unit aims to address this growing public‑health challenge by providing precise, technically advanced assessments for severe myopia patients.
Entities
Barcelona · Dr. Ana Boixadera · Dr. Marta Castany · Dr. Miguel Ángel Zapata · Hospital Vall d’Hebron
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Retinal pathologies are the most frequent cause of blindness risk in high myopes, often diagnosed directly because they are symptomatic. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.eldia.es · www.lne.es
- [● 3 SOURCES] The unit offers multidisciplinary, high‑resolution consultations for precise diagnosis and prognosis of severe myopia. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.eldia.es · www.lne.es
- [● 3 SOURCES] Myopia is currently the leading cause of irreversible vision loss among working‑age adults in Spain. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.eldia.es · www.lne.es
- [● 3 SOURCES] Hospital Vall d’Hebron in Barcelona opened a Myopia Unit in September 2024 for patients with more than six diopters and axial length over 26 mm. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.eldia.es · www.lne.es
- [● 3 SOURCES] High myopia (over six diopters) carries an exponentially increasing risk of complications and vision loss after age 50. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.eldia.es · www.lne.es
- [● 3 SOURCES] Global myopia prevalence was about 20 % in 2000 and is projected to reach 50 % by 2050. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.eldia.es · www.lne.es
- [● 3 SOURCES] Dr. Marta Castany (Glaucoma) and Dr. Ana Boixadera (Retina) identified the need for the unit and led its creation with support from Dr. Miguel Ángel Zapata. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.eldia.es · www.lne.es