School grades and myopia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between school performance and myopia in Singapore children.


METHODS
Children aged 10-12 years from two schools in the Singapore Cohort study Of the Risk factors for Myopia (SCORM) were included. Results of a Year 4 standard nation-wide examination were obtained. Cycloplegic autorefraction and A-scan ultrasound biometry measurements were performed in the schools.


RESULTS
The odds ratio for myopia (defined as right eye spherical equivalent at least -0.5 D) was 2.5 (95% confidence interval 1.4-4.5) for children with average school examination scores in the fourth quartile compared with the first, after adjusting for confounders including reading in books per week and IQ test scores. Similar significant associations were found for English language (p = 0.001) and native language school examination scores (p < 0.001), while the associations with mathematics school examination scores were of borderline significance (p = 0.055).


CONCLUSIONS
School grades, a possible indicator of either cumulative engagement in near work activity or intelligence, were positively associated with myopia in Singapore children.
Saw
Seang-Mei
SM
Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, National University of Singapore, 16 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597. cofsawsm@nus.edu.sg
Cheng
Angela
A
Fong
Allan
A
Gazzard
Gus
G
Tan
Donald T H
DT
Morgan
Ian
I
D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D009216:Myopia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology