Clinical Study
Eye advance online publication 2 February 2007; doi: 10.1038/sj.eye.6702701
Ethnic differences in refraction and ocular biometry in a population-based sample of 11–15-year-old Australian children
Proprietary Interest: None
J M Ip1, S C Huynh1, D Robaei1, A Kifley1, K A Rose2, I G Morgan3, J J Wang1 and P Mitchell1
- 1Department of Ophthalmology and the Westmead Millennium Institute, Centre for Vision Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- 2School of Applied Vision Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- 3ARC Centre of Excellence in Vision Science and Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
Correspondence: P Mitchell, Department of Ophthalmology, Centre for Vision Research, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, New South Wales 2145, Australia. Tel: +61 2 9845 7953; Fax: +61 2 9845 8345; E-mail: paul_mitchell@wmi.usyd.edu.au
Received 19 July 2006; Accepted 30 November 2006; Published online 2 February 2007.
Abstract
Purpose
To examine the prevalence of refractive error and distribution of ocular biometric parameters among major ethnic groups in a population-based sample of 11–15-year-old Australian children.
Methods
The Sydney Myopia Study examined 2353 students (75.3% response) from a random cluster-sample of 21 secondary schools across Sydney. Examinations included cycloplegic autorefraction, and measures of corneal radius of curvature, anterior chamber depth, and axial length.
Results
Participants mean age was 12.7 years (range 11.1–14.4);
49.4% were female. Overall, 60.0% of children had European Caucasian ethnicity,
15.0% East Asian, 7.1% Middle Eastern, and 5.5% South Asian. The most frequent
refractive error was mild hyperopia (59.4%, 95% confidence interval (CI),
53.2–65.6), defined as spherical equivalent (SE) +0.50 to +1.99 D. Myopia
(SE-0.50 D or less) was found in 11.9%, 95% (CI 6.6–17.2), and moderate
hyperopia (SE
+2.00 D) in 3.5%, 95% (CI
2.8–4.1). Myopia prevalence was lower among European Caucasian children (4.6%,
95% CI 3.1–6.1) and Middle Eastern children (6.1%, 95% CI 1.3–11.0) than among
East Asian (39.5%, 95%, CI 25.6–53.5) and South Asian (31.5%, 95%, CI 21.6–41.4)
children. European Caucasian children had the most hyperopic mean SE
(+0.82 D) and shortest mean axial length (23.23 mm). East Asian
children had the most myopic mean SE (-0.69 D) and greatest mean axial
length (23.86 mm).
Conclusion
The overall myopia prevalence in this sample was lower than in recent similar-aged European Caucasian population samples. East Asian children in our sample had both a higher prevalence of myopia and longer mean axial length.
Keywords:
myopia, ocular biometry, population-based, epidemiology, Sydney myopia study, refraction
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