The number of ophthalmology patients with conditions such as retinal detachment and macular degeneration is steadily increasing. As excessive close-range work and the use of digital devices such as smartphones have grown, patients are on the rise across all age groups, including young people in their 20s and 30s.
According to the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) on the 8th, the number of patients receiving treatment for retinal detachment and retinal tears increased by approximately 47%, from 106,855 to 156,987 over the past five years (2021–2025). During this period, the number of patients in their 20s and 30s rose by 30%, from 24,631 to 32,064, while the number of patients in their 40s and 50s increased by 53% and 56%, respectively.
Retinal detachment is a condition in which the retina, located inside the eyeball, separates from its normal position. When the retina detaches from the inner wall of the eye, nutrient supply is blocked, and the function of photoreceptor cells gradually declines. Delayed treatment can lead to permanent vision loss or blindness. A retinal tear is a condition that is a primary cause of retinal detachment, in which the retina tears at the area where it adheres to the vitreous body (a transparent gel-like substance inside the eye), creating a hole.
The number of patients receiving treatment for macular degeneration, which is heavily influenced by aging, also increased by approximately 70%, from 367,463 in 2021 to 622,961 in 2025. Macular degeneration is a degenerative disease that causes vision loss due to degeneration of the macula, the center of the retina. Aging and family history act in combination. Various systemic and lifestyle factors, including smoking, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, as well as diet and physical activity, are also associated with the onset of macular degeneration.
Since the eyes continue to change from the growth period through old age, the health issues that require attention vary by age. During the growth period, when the body is developing, there is a tendency for the proportion of vision abnormalities to increase with each grade level, so it is necessary to pay attention to eye health from an early age.
In fact, according to sample statistics from student health examinations by the Ministry of Education, the rate of vision abnormalities was found to increase with grade level: △30.41% for first-grade elementary school students, △53.77% for fourth-grade elementary school students, △66.38% for first-year middle school students, and △74.45% for first-year high school students. According to HIRA, the number of patients with dry eye syndrome aged 0 to 19 also increased by 13.9%, from 152,930 in 2021 to 174,187 in 2025.
For young people in their 20s and 30s, interest in eye health may be relatively low, so it is necessary to maintain a sense of alertness. If changes in vision or field of view that differ from the norm appear, they should not be taken lightly. It is important to seek ophthalmic care if symptoms different from usual occur, such as a sudden worsening of floaters (a sensation of dust or insects floating in front of the eyes).
For people in their 40s and 50s who begin to perceive changes in vision in daily life, such as difficulty seeing nearby text clearly, it is necessary to examine both the retina and the optic nerve. It is advisable to check one's condition regularly even if there are no specific ophthalmic symptoms. For older adults aged 60 and above, it is important to detect early and continuously manage diseases that can affect visual function, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.
Jin Ryo-bu (Director) of Kim Eye Hospital said, "The eyes continue to change throughout life, from vision changes during the growth period to retinal health in younger age groups, and to retinal and optic nerve diseases that increase after middle age." He added, "Even without any particular discomfort, it is important for long-term eye health maintenance to pay attention to one's own eye condition and regularly check for changes."
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