Differences in prevalence of refractive errors in young Asian males in Singapore between 1996-1997 and 2009-2010

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the differences in prevalence rates of refractive errors in young Singaporean males over a 13-year period between 1996-1997 and 2009-2010 METHODS: Non-cycloplegic autorefraction data were obtained in a survey of 15,085 young male subjects (mean age 19.5 ± 1.4 years, range 16-25 years) in 1996-1997 using a Nikon NRK-8000 autorefractor. A second survey of 28,908 male subjects (mean age 19.8 ± 1.2 years, range 17-29 years) was conducted in 2009-2010 using a Huvitz MRK-3100 autorefractor.

Results: The overall prevalence of myopia (spherical equivalent, SEq, worse than -0.5 diopters, D) was similar in 2009-2010 (81.6%) and 1996-1997 (79.2%; odds ratio 1.38, 95% confidence interval 1.31-1.46; p < 0.001). The prevalence of high myopia (SEq worse than -6.0D) increased from 13.1% in 1996-1997 to 14.7% in 2009-2010 (p < 0.001). The prevalence of refractive astigmatism increased significantly from 41.4% in 1996-1997 to 50.9% in 2009-2010 (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Our results show that the prevalence of myopia and high myopia remained high and the prevalence of astigmatism increased in young male adults in Singapore over a 13-year period after controlling for age, education and ethnicity.

Keywords: Astigmatism; Singapore; epidemiology; myopia; refractive error.