Prevalence of refractive error in rural Myanmar: the Meiktila Eye Study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of refractive error and associated risk factors in the Meiktila District of central rural Myanmar.


METHODS
Population-based cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Randomized stratified cluster sampling of the inhabitants 40 years or older from villages in Meiktila was performed; 2481 eligible participants were identified, 2076 participated in the study, and adequate refractive data were obtained on 1863 individuals (75.1%).


METHODS
Demographic data including age, gender, and education level were obtained from all participants. The ophthalmic examination included autorefraction, nuclear opalescence (NO) grading at the slit lamp, and applanation tonometry.


METHODS
Refractive errors were classified by type of ametropia and their prevalence was determined. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed and odds ratios were calculated for the predictors of refractive error within the statistical models.


RESULTS
Mean refractive error measured -1.3 diopters (D) (standard deviation [SD], 2.9) and mean cylindrical error measured 1.1 D (SD, 1.5). Myopia of >-1.0 and >-6.0 D occurred in 42.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 40.4%-44.9%) and 6.5% (95% CI, 5.4%-7.6%) of subjects, respectively. Myopic refractive error was associated significantly with a higher degree of NO (P<0.001) and age. Hypermetropia of >+1.0 D occurred in 15% (95% CI, 5.4%-7.6%) of the population and was associated with higher education levels (P<0.001). Astigmatism worse than 1.0 D occurred in 30.6% (95% CI, 28.5%-32.7%) of the population and was associated with age (P<0.001) and NO (P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Myopia was more prevalent in older subjects and in those with increased NO. The prevalence rates of myopia in the > or =40 age group are higher than those found in other Asian regions and are likely to contribute to visual impairment.
Gupta
A
A
South Australian Institute of Ophthalmology, Adelaide, Australia. aanchal09@gmail.com
Casson
R J
RJ
Newland
H S
HS
Muecke
J
J
Landers
J
J
Selva
D
D
Aung
T
T
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000453:epidemiology; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D002052:Myanmar / Q000453:epidemiology; D009216:Myopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution