TY - JOUR
T1 - The changing prevalence of myopia in young adults
T2 - A 13-year series of population-based prevalence surveys
AU - Dayan, Yosefa Bar
AU - Levin, Avi
AU - Morad, Yair
AU - Grotto, Itamar
AU - Ben-David, Rachel
AU - Goldberg, Avishai
AU - Onn, Erez
AU - Avni, Isaac
AU - Levi, Yehezkel
AU - Benyamini, Oren Gil
PY - 2005
Y1 - 2005
N2 - PURPOSE. To determine the changing prevalence of myopia during the years 1990 through 2002 among the 16- to 22-year age group and identify possible risk factors. METHODS. A retrospective study, based on 13 repeated prevalence surveys conducted over a 13-year period. The study subjects were all Israeli nationals belonging to the 16- to 22-year age group from the years 1990 to 2002. Refraction was determined by using subjective visual acuity followed by noncycloplegic autorefraction and subjective validation based on the autorefraction results. Mild myopia was defined as a refractive error of -0.50 to -3.00 D in at least one eye, moderate myopia as -3.25 to -6.00 D, and high myopia as more than -6.00 D. RESULTS. There were 919,929 subjects (382,139 [42%] females and 537,790 [58%] males) included in the study. The overall prevalence of myopia increased from 20.3% in 1990 to 28.3% in 2002. The prevalence of high, moderate, and mild myopia significantly increased in males from 1.7%, 5.7%, and 11.6% in 1990 to 2.05%, 7.2%, and 16.3% in 2002, respectively (P < 0.001). In females, the prevalence of myopia increased from 1.9%, 6.6%, and 13.5% in 1990 to 2.4%, 9.2%, and 20.7% in 2002, respectively (P < 0.001). A correlation between myopia and the number of years of education was observed. Non-Israeli origin was found to be a significant risk factor for myopia. CONCLUSIONS. During the 13 years from 1990 to 2002, the prevalence of myopia significantly increased among the Israeli population. Although there was an association with the level of education, gender, ethnicity, and origin, the prevalence of myopia increased on an annual basis, independent of these factors.
AB - PURPOSE. To determine the changing prevalence of myopia during the years 1990 through 2002 among the 16- to 22-year age group and identify possible risk factors. METHODS. A retrospective study, based on 13 repeated prevalence surveys conducted over a 13-year period. The study subjects were all Israeli nationals belonging to the 16- to 22-year age group from the years 1990 to 2002. Refraction was determined by using subjective visual acuity followed by noncycloplegic autorefraction and subjective validation based on the autorefraction results. Mild myopia was defined as a refractive error of -0.50 to -3.00 D in at least one eye, moderate myopia as -3.25 to -6.00 D, and high myopia as more than -6.00 D. RESULTS. There were 919,929 subjects (382,139 [42%] females and 537,790 [58%] males) included in the study. The overall prevalence of myopia increased from 20.3% in 1990 to 28.3% in 2002. The prevalence of high, moderate, and mild myopia significantly increased in males from 1.7%, 5.7%, and 11.6% in 1990 to 2.05%, 7.2%, and 16.3% in 2002, respectively (P < 0.001). In females, the prevalence of myopia increased from 1.9%, 6.6%, and 13.5% in 1990 to 2.4%, 9.2%, and 20.7% in 2002, respectively (P < 0.001). A correlation between myopia and the number of years of education was observed. Non-Israeli origin was found to be a significant risk factor for myopia. CONCLUSIONS. During the 13 years from 1990 to 2002, the prevalence of myopia significantly increased among the Israeli population. Although there was an association with the level of education, gender, ethnicity, and origin, the prevalence of myopia increased on an annual basis, independent of these factors.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=24644448401&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1167/iovs.04-0260
DO - 10.1167/iovs.04-0260
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C2 - 16043848
AN - SCOPUS:24644448401
SN - 0146-0404
VL - 46
SP - 2760
EP - 2765
JO - Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
JF - Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
IS - 8
ER -