title: Prevalence and associated sociodemographic factors of myopia in Korean children: the 2005 third Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES III).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the sociodemographic factors of myopia and the care of myopia in Korean children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We acquired data from 8,633 children who had completed the Health Interview Survey portion of the third Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We assessed the prevalence of eye problems in subjects younger than 19. Sociodemographic factors that affect myopia and myopia care were identified by multivariate logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of child myopia in Korea was 22.6%. The results indicated a significant association between increasing age and myopia. There was a relation between the prevalence of myopia and income level. Participants living in homes owned by their parents or in urban areas as well as those with disabilities were more likely to have myopia. In terms of myopia care, age and monthly household income were significant factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Public education and strategies such as a national vision screening programs are needed for appropriate vision care as children get older, and more effort needs to be made in assisting disabled persons with vision care.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-752, Korea.
authors: Hyung Taek
authors: HT
authors: Lim
authors: Jin Sook
authors: JS
authors: Yoon
authors: Seung-Sik
authors: SS
authors: Hwang
authors: Sang Yeul
authors: SY
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000208:ethnology*; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data