Risk Factors For and Progression of Myopia in Young Taiwanese Men

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the association between potential risk factors for myopia and its progression in young adult Taiwanese men.

Methods: A survey of male military conscripts (aged 18–24 years) was conducted from February 2010 to March 2011 in Taiwan. Participants underwent comprehensive eye examinations, including measurements of axial length and corneal radius by optical biometry and non-cycloplegic autorefraction. Participants also provided self-reported progression of myopia and information regarding potential risk factors, including age, parental myopia, educational level, close work, outdoor activities, and urbanization.

Results: Of 5145 eligible participants, 5048 (98.11%) provided refraction and questionnaire data; 2316 (45.88%) of the 5048 also had biometric measurements. The prevalence of myopia was 86.1% in this group, with a mean refractive error of −3.66 diopters (D). Of the 5048 participants, 1376 (27.3%) had experienced progression of their myopia during the past year. There were trends for a higher prevalence of myopia among older participants (p = 0.014), those with a history of parental myopia (p < 0.001), higher levels of education (p = 0.001), increased time spent reading (p < 0.001), less time outdoors (p = 0.003), and higher levels of urbanization (p = 0.010). However, only parental myopia, close work, and higher urbanization levels were significantly associated with self-reported progression of myopia.

Conclusion: Older age, parental myopia, higher educational level, close work, fewer outdoor activities, and higher urbanization level were associated with the prevalence of myopia in Taiwanese men.

• Axial length-corneal radius ratio
• myopia
• progression of myopia
• Taiwan
• young adults

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

This study was supported by the Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital Tainan Branch Research Program [Grant no. VHYK-10006].