Cross-sectional study of near-work and myopia in kindergarten children in Singapore.
BACKGROUND
In view of the high and increasing myopia rates amongst young Singaporean children, we aimed to assess the relationship between near-work and myopia in 414 pre-school children aged 4 to 6 years.


METHODS
We measured near-work indices such as tuition classes outside school and other possible risk factors via a questionnaire. We then measured myopia with a hand-held autorefractor.


RESULTS
Children who had 3 or more hours per week of near-work classes outside school had a higher rate [odds ratio 1.39 (95% confidence interval 1.02, 2.53)] of myopia.


CONCLUSIONS
This suggests that there may be an association between near-work and myopia, even at such a young age. Given the increasing emphasis on near-work in Singapore, it may be important to call for increased visual health awareness, although further studies will be needed to establish if near-work causes myopia.
Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, National University of Singapore.
G J
GJ
Tan
Y P
YP
Ng
Y C
YC
Lim
P Y
PY
Ong
A
A
Snodgrass
S M
SM
Saw
D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011336:Probability; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires