This study provides population-based data on the prevalence of and risk factors for age-related eye diseases in people of Malay ethnicity in Singapore. Data from this study allow further understanding of the etiology and impact of eye diseases in this ethnic group.

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The prevalence of glaucoma among Malay persons 40 years of age and older in Singapore is 3.4%, comparable to ethnic Chinese people in Singapore and other racial/ethnic groups in Asia. As in Chinese, Caucasians, and African people, primary open-angle glaucoma was the main form of glaucoma in this population. More than 90% of glaucoma cases were previously undetected.

Purpose To examine the impact of symptomatic dry eye on vision-related daily activities. Methods A population-based survey of eye diseases was conducted on 3280 (78.7% response rate) Malay persons aged X40 years, who were randomly selected from designated areas in southwestern Singapore. Participants were administered a standardized dry eye questionnaire consisting of six questions on symptoms, a questionnaire on vision-related daily activities, and underwent a comprehensive systemic and ocular examination. Symptomatic dry eye was defined as one or more self-reported symptoms that were frequently present (ranked as often or all the time). Logistic regression method was used to examine the relationship of symptomatic dry eye with difficulty in performing daily activities. Results In adults without visual impairment, symptomatic dry eye after adjusting for age, gender, and presenting visual acuity was significantly associated with difficulty in vision-related activities such as navigating stairs (odds ratio (OR) ¼ 1.96, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.28-3.00), recognizing friends (OR ¼ 1.99, 95% CI: 1.45-2.73), reading road signs (OR ¼ 1.87, 95% CI: 1.36-2.57), reading newspaper (OR ¼ 1.50, 95% CI: 1.11-2.04), watching television (OR ¼ 1.90, 95% CI: 1.26-2.87), cooking (OR ¼ 1.94, 95% CI: 1.02-3.71), and driving at night (OR ¼ 2.06, 95% CI: 1.32-3.21). Conclusion Symptomatic dry eye was associated with difficulty in performing vision-dependent tasks, independent of visual acuity and other factors. These findings have public health significance and suggest that the visual dysfunction in dry eye should be further characterized.

MGD was highly prevalent in this Asian population and associated with various systemic and ocular conditions.

SiMES-2 will be one of the few follow-up epidemiological eye studies among Asians and will determine the cumulative 6-year incidence, progression, risk factors and impact of major eye diseases in Singaporean Malay adults.

Undercorrected refractive error is a significant cause of correctable visual impairment among Singaporean Malay adults, affecting one in five persons.

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