May 2005
Volume 46, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2005
Distribution of Myopia in Australian School Children of Caucasian and East Asian Origin: The Sydney Myopia Study
K.A. Rose; T. Quoc Mai; E. Ojiami; S. Huynh; D. Robaei; E. Rochtchina; W. Smith; I. Morgan; P. Mitchell; Sydney Myopia Study
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • K.A. Rose
    School of Applied Vision Sciences, University of Sydney, Lidcombe Sydney, Australia
  • T. Quoc Mai
    School of Applied Vision Sciences, University of Sydney, Lidcombe Sydney, Australia
  • E. Ojiami
    Westmead Millennium Institute: Department of Ophthalmology (Centre for Vision Research), University Sydney, Westmead Sydney, Australia
  • S. Huynh
    Westmead Millennium Institute: Department of Ophthalmology (Centre for Vision Research), University Sydney, Westmead Sydney, Australia
  • D. Robaei
    Westmead Millennium Institute: Department of Ophthalmology (Centre for Vision Research), University Sydney, Westmead Sydney, Australia
  • E. Rochtchina
    Westmead Millennium Institute: Department of Ophthalmology (Centre for Vision Research), University Sydney, Westmead Sydney, Australia
  • W. Smith
    Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
  • I. Morgan
    School of Applied Vision Sciences, University of Sydney, Lidcombe Sydney, Australia
    Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
  • P. Mitchell
    School of Applied Vision Sciences, University of Sydney, Lidcombe Sydney, Australia
    Westmead Millennium Institute: Department of Ophthalmology (Centre for Vision Research), University Sydney, Westmead Sydney, Australia
  • Sydney Myopia Study
    School of Applied Vision Sciences, University of Sydney, Lidcombe Sydney, Australia
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  K.A. Rose, None; T. Quoc Mai, None; E. Ojiami, None; S. Huynh, None; D. Robaei, None; E. Rochtchina, None; W. Smith, None; I. Morgan, None; P. Mitchell, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  NHMRC Australia IDNo253732
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2005, Vol.46, 4621. doi:
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      K.A. Rose, T. Quoc Mai, E. Ojiami, S. Huynh, D. Robaei, E. Rochtchina, W. Smith, I. Morgan, P. Mitchell, Sydney Myopia Study; Distribution of Myopia in Australian School Children of Caucasian and East Asian Origin: The Sydney Myopia Study . Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2005;46(13):4621.

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Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: The Sydney Myopia Study aims to document the prevalence of refractive error in Australian school children in Sydney. Here we report the prevalence of myopia in the cohort of 6–7 year olds. Methods: All Year 1 children attending 34 primary schools, selected using a stratified random cluster design based on socio–economic status, were invited to participate. A comprehensive eye examination including cycloplegic (cyclopentolate) autorefraction was performed. Parents completed a 193 item questionnaire on health and socio–demographic information. Results: Of the 1740 children with a mean age of 6.7 years who participated (78.9%), 1724 had autorefraction. The prevalence of myopia (≤ –0.5D in either eye) was 1.54% (95% CI 1.02–2.34). Mean spherical equivalent refraction in right eyes was +1.26D (SEM 0.03). In children whose parents identified themselves as European Caucasian (n=1109), the myopia prevalence was 0.80% (CI 0.47–1.37). In children with parents of East Asian origin (n=295, 17.1%) the myopia prevalence was 3.58% (CI 2.12–6.02), significantly higher than the Caucasian group. Conclusions: The low prevalence of myopia and the hyperopic mean spherical equivalent is consistent with older data on Caucasian children of this age1,2 but is lower than more recent data from the US3. Despite a combination of urban dwelling lifestyle, extensive preschool attendance and compulsory school education from the age of 4–5 for children in Sydney, the prevalence of myopia from the East Asian children is very much lower than that reported in Taiwan4, Hong Kong5 and Singapore6. 1. Sorsby et al. London: Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 1961. 2. Slataper FJ. Archives of Ophthalmology 1950;43:466–481. 3. Zadnik K. Optometry & Vision Science 1997;74(8):603–8. 4. Lin et al. Ann Acad Med Singapore 2004;33(1):27–33. 5. Fan et al. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2004;45(4):1071–5. 6. Saw et al. Ophthalmology 2002;109(11):2065–71.

Keywords: refractive error development • myopia • hyperopia 
© 2005, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc., all rights reserved. Permission to republish any abstract or part of an abstract in any form must be obtained in writing from the ARVO Office prior to publication.
Copyright © 2025 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
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