A 2-year longitudinal study of myopia progression and optical component changes among Hong Kong schoolchildren.

Abstract

This study investigated refractive error and optical component changes in a group of 142 Hong Kong schoolchildren from age 6 to 17 years over a 2-year period between 1991 and 1993. Subjects were refracted subjectively and corneal curvatures and ocular dimensions were measured. At the end of the 2-year study, the mean spherical equivalent refraction (SER) was -1.86 D (SD 1.99 D) and 62% of the schoolchildren were myopic. The annual incidence of myopia was 11.8%. Children aged 10 years and under had a greater change in SER toward myopia than older children. The annual rate of myopia progression for the myopic children was -0.46 D (SD 0.40 D) and the rate of progression was greatest between age 6 and 10 years old. Vitreous depth/axial length elongation was the main component contributing to the progression of myopia. Hong Kong schoolchildren develop myopia as early as 6 years old and myopia progresses at a greater rate compared with children of European extraction.

• Authors: C S Lam, M Edwards, M Millodot, W S Goh
• Journal: Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry (Optom Vis Sci) Vol. 76 Issue 6 Pg. 370-80 (Jun 1999) ISSN: 1040-5488 [Print] United States
• PMID: 10416931 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Age Factors
• Child
• Cornea (physiopathology)
• Disease Progression
• Eye (physiopathology)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Hong Kong (epidemiology)
• Humans
• Incidence
• Male
• Myopia (epidemiology, pathology, physiopathology)
• Prevalence
• Refraction, Ocular
• Retrospective Studies
• Sex Factors
• Vitreous Body (physiopathology)