Abstract
Purpose:
The current notion is that the frequency of myopia is rising in all parts of the world. This study aimed to investigate prevalence of myopia in young children of a population-based multi-ethnic birth cohort study of Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Methods:
9,778 mothers (59% Caucasian; 16% Surinamese, Dutch Antilles and Cape Verdian; 15% Mediterranean; and 10% others) with a delivery date from April 2002 until January 2006 were enrolled in the study. At age 6 years, children were invited for a detailed investigation, including visual acuity by LEA charts, keratometry, axial length, and fundus photography. Those with LogMAR acuity > 0.1 were referred for detailed ophthalmological examination including a cycloplegic refraction. Medical records of those already receiving ophthalmologic care were evaluated.
Results:
Of the 6690 examined children, the mean best corrected visual acuity was 0.03 LogMAR and the mean axial length was 22.38mm. N=205 (3.1%) children had already been referred to an ophthalmologist; of the remaining children, n=357 (5.3%) had visual acuity > 0.1. Of the total population, 79 (1.2%) had myopia (≤-0.5D).
Conclusions:
The prevalence of myopia among six year olds in our study appears to be comparable to other studies of Caucasian children, but lower than studies of Asian children. Myopia at this stage in life will almost certainly lead to high myopia later in life.
Keywords: 605 myopia •
677 refractive error development •
463 clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence