Singapore Malay Eye Study: rationale and methodology of 6-year follow-up study (SiMES-2).
BACKGROUND
To describe the rationale and study design of a follow-up epidemiological eye study among Singaporean Malay adults.


METHODS
Follow-up prospective population-based study.


METHODS
Participants of the Singapore Malay Eye Study (SiMES-1), which was conducted from August 2004 to June 2006.


METHODS
This is a follow-up study of the 3280 participants who participated in the SiMES-1 and are residing in Singapore. All participants of this follow-up study will undergo various standardized validated questionnaires on socio-demographics, quality of life and impact of visual impairment. Participants will undergo assessment of blood pressure, anthropometry, presenting and best corrected visual acuity, subjective refraction, ocular biometry, slit lamp and dilated eye examination, Goldmann tonometry, optic disc imaging, digital lens and retinal photography. Retinal tomography, retinal optical coherence topography and fundus autofluorescence will also be performed. Gonioscopy and visual fields examination will be performed on selected individuals.


METHODS
Incidence, risk factors and impact of visual impairment and major eye diseases.


RESULTS
A total of 3280 people who participated in the SiMES-1 will be contacted and invited to participate in this follow-up study. It is estimated that 12.8% of the participants will be deceased and there will be an 80% participation rate for the survivors of SiMES-1 (approximately 2288 participants).


CONCLUSIONS
SiMES-2 will be one of the few follow-up epidemiological eye studies among Asians and will determine the cumulative 6-year incidence, progression, risk factors and impact of major eye diseases in Singaporean Malay adults.
Singapore National Eye Center Singapore Eye Research Institute, Departments of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Mohamad
M
Rosman
Yingfeng
Y
Zheng
Wanling
W
Wong
Ecosse
E
Lamoureux
Seang-Mei
SM
Saw
Wan-Ting
WT
Tay
Jie Jin
JJ
Wang
Paul
P
Mitchell
E-Shyong
ES
Tai
Tien Y
TY
Wong
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*