Myopia and Diabetic Retinopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

•A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the association of myopia with diabetic retinopathy.•Nine studies involving 29,231 individuals were included.•Current studies suggest that individuals with myopia exhibit a decreased risk for developing diabetic retinopathy or vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy.•An increased axial length plays a critical role in this protective effect.