Factors Associated with Myopia in School Children in China: The Beijing Childhood Eye Study

Abstract

PurposeTo assess factors associated with myopia in school children in rural and urban parts of Greater Beijing.MethodsThe Beijing Pedriatic Eye Study was a population-based cross-sectional study, in which one school of each level (primary, junior high, senior high) was randomly selected from nine randomly selected districts out of 18 districts of Greater Beijing. The children underwent non-cylcoplegic refractometry and their parents an interview.ResultsOf 16,771 eligible students, 15,066 (89.8%) children (7,769 (51.6%) girls) participated, with 8,860 (58.8%) participants living in the rural region. Mean age was 13.2±3.4 years (range:7–18 years). In multivariate analysis, prevalence of myopia (defined as ≤−1.00 diopters) was associated with higher age (Odds ratio(OR):1.37; 95% confidence interval(CI):1.35,1.39), female gender (OR:1.35;95%CI:1.25,1.47), key school type (OR:0.77;95%CI: 0.70,0.85), higher family income (OR:1.04;95%CI:1.01,1.07), parental myopia (OR:1.46;95%CI:1.40,1.53), dim reading illumination (OR:0.93;95%CI: 0.88,0.98), longer daily studying duration (OR:1.10;95%CI:1.06,1.15), shorter duration of watching television (or computer) (OR:0.93;95%CI:0.89,0.97), higher self-reported protein intake (OR:0.94;95%CI:0.90,0.99), feeling well about life and status (OR:0.93;95%CI:0.89,0.98), and feeling tired or dizzy (OR:0.94;95%CI:0.91,0.97). Prevalence of high myopia (defined as ≤−6.00 diopters) was associated with higher age (OR:1.43;95%CI:1.38, 1.48), key school type (OR:0.61;95%CI:0.49,0.74), family income (OR:1.07;95%CI:1.02,1.13), parental myopia (OR:1.65;95%CI:1.54,1.76), dim reading illumination (OR:0.86;95%CI:0.77,0.96), less rest during studying (OR:1.18;95%CI:1.10,1.27), feeling well about life and studying (OR:0.88;95%CI: 0.81,0.96) and feeling dizzy or tired (OR:0.93;95%CI:0.87,0.99). Prevalence of high myopia (defined as ≤−8.00 diopters) was significantly associated with higher age (OR:1.39;95%CI:1.31,1.48;), key school type (OR:0.61;95%CI:0.42,0.88) and parental myopia (OR:1.87;95%CI:1.66,2.12).ConclusionsMyopia in school children in Greater Beijing was associated with higher age, female gender, school type, parental myopia, higher socioeconomic background, dim reading illumination, longer daily studying duration, less rest during study, shorter duration of watching television (or computer), higher self-reported protein intake, feeling well about life and status, and feeling tired and dizzy.

Rola aktywności zewnętrznej w rozwoju krótkowzroczności u dzieci w wieku szkolnym

“…Most authors believe that outdoor activity reduces the prevalence of myopia in children [2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17]. We also observed this relationship in our paper.…”

“…It is also known that outdoor activity reduces the prevalence of myopia -table 1 [2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17]. However, lately a number of papers have been published that determined that outdoor activity does not have an influence on the prevalence of myopia -table 2 [18,19,20,21,22,23,24].…”

The role of reading, writing, using a computer, or watching television in the development of myopia

“…An important environmental factor that influences the development of myopia is visual near work [4]. Many authors believe that reading, writing, and using a computer lead to a higher prevalence of myopia [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. However, there have also been some publications that have not found such an association [17][18][19][20][21][22][23].…”

A study on prevalence of myopia and its associated factors in school children of Salem, Tamil Nadu

“…This altogether indicates that visual gadgets and habit of using it and family predisposition are the major factors associated with myopia. 8 Of students studying book at low distance, 79% were myopic and those involved in more near work, 57% were myopic. But, based on previous data it is not clear whether myopia develops due to increase near work or as a consequence of myopia, people use things by placing it close to their eyes.…”