The impact of corrected and uncorrected refractive error on visual functioning: the Singapore Malay Eye Study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the impact of corrected and uncorrected myopia and hyperopia on visual functioning in an urban Malay population.


METHODS
The Singapore Malay Eye Study is a population-based, cross-sectional study of Singaporean Malays aged 40 to 80 years. Myopia was defined as spherical equivalence (SE) <or= -0.50 D, hyperopia as SE > 1.0 D, and emmetropia as SE -0.5 to 1.0 D in the better eye. Uncorrected myopia and hyperopia were defined as at least a 2-line difference between habitual and best corrected VA in persons with myopia or hyperopia, respectively. Visual functioning was assessed with the VF-11 scale.


RESULTS
Of 2912 participants, 441 (15.1%) and 213 (7.3%) had corrected or uncorrected hyperopia and 333 (11.4%), and 131 (4.5%) had corrected or uncorrected myopia, respectively. Of those, 249 (8.6%) participants were considered emmetropic with a >2-line difference between habitual and best corrected vision, and 1543 (53.1%) participants had a <or=2-line difference. In linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, educational attainment, ocular conditions, and nonocular comorbidity, only uncorrected myopia was independently associated with poorer overall visual functioning (beta regression coefficient = -0.34; P <or= 0.001) and with activities such as reading street signs (beta = -0.47; 95% CI: -0.62 to -0.33; P < 0.001), recognizing friends (beta = -0.52; 95% CI: -0.67 to -0.37; P < 0.001), and watching television (beta = -0.33; 95% CI: -0.44 to -0.22; P < 0.001). These findings were replicated in a healthy subsample with no other eye conditions and nonocular comorbidities (n = 1112).


CONCLUSIONS
Adequate myopia correction can improve participation in daily living and visual functioning in people with myopia. Correction of hyperopia does not have this effect.
Lamoureux
Ecosse L
EL
Centre for Eye Research Australia, the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Australia. ecosse@unimelb.edu.au
Saw
Seang-Mei
SM
Thumboo
Julian
J
Wee
Hwee Lin
HL
Aung
Tin
T
Mitchell
Paul
P
Wong
Tien Y
TY
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003261:Contact Lenses; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006956:Hyperopia / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*