Abstract
Purpose :
Understanding the prevalence of myopia in young pediatric patients is crucial to prevent pathological complications such as, retinal detachment, myopic maculopathy, open-angle glaucoma, and cataracts. This study aims to determine the prevalence of myopia in Hispanic children aged 3 to 5-years-old over a 5 year period, 2012 to 2017, with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Preschool Vision Program (UPVP).
Methods :
The UPVP performed visual acuity and undilated refractive screening on 3 to 5-year-old children between 2012 to 2017, and found the majority of the students to be Hispanic. Of these students, 10,903 underwent full cycloplegic examination after failing initial screening criteria. Myopia was defined as a spherical equivalent ≤ -0.5 D in one or both eyes. Prevalence of myopia was compared using Pearson’s Chi-squared test and mean spherical equivalent were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).
Results :
Across all examined participants, there was significant change in mean spherical equivalent over calendar years, 2012 to 2017 (p = 0.002). Of those who were myopic, the severity of myopia, measured by spherical equivalent, also changed significantly from 2012 to 2017 (p = 0.04). Additionally, when all participants were stratified by age group, 3 and 4-year-old participants demonstrated a significant increase in prevalence of myopia over time (from 2012 to 2017) (p < 0.05). 5-year-old participants demonstrated a positive trend towards increased myopia prevalence (p = 0.09). To exclude participants who might have been examined multiple times in the analysis of myopia prevalence over time, first and last calendar years (2012-13 vs 2016-17) were compared. Prevalence of myopia was observed to increase significantly amongst all ages, 3, 4, and 5-years-old, over calendar year (p < 0.05).
Conclusions :
The severity of myopia is changing, and the prevalence of myopia has increased over time, from 2012 to 2017, in Hispanic pre-school aged children. This information will help in further myopia screening of preschool children to prevent serious pathological complications.
This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.