title: Myopia is associated with lower vitamin D status in young adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association between serum vitamin D levels and myopia in young adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 946 individuals participating in the 20-year follow-up of the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study were included in this study. Ethnicity, parental myopia, and education status were ascertained by self-reported questionnaire. A comprehensive ophthalmic examination was performed, including postcycloplegic autorefraction and conjunctival UV autofluorescence photography. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ (25(OH)D₃) concentrations were determined using mass spectrometry. The association between serum 25(OH)D₃ concentrations and prevalent myopia was determined using multivariable logistic regression. Myopia was defined as mean spherical equivalent ≤ -0.5 diopters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 946 participants, 221 (23.4%) had myopia (n = 725 nonmyopic). Myopic subjects had lower serum 25(OH)D₃ concentrations compared to nonmyopic participants (median 67.6 vs. 72.5 nmol, P = 0.003). In univariable analysis, lower serum 25(OH)D₃ concentration was associated with higher risk of having myopia (odds ratio [OR] for <50 vs. ≥50 nmol/L: 2.63; confidence interval [95% CI] 1.71-4.05; P < 0.001). This association persisted after adjustment for potential confounders, including age, sex, ethnicity, parental myopia, education status, and ocular sun-exposure biomarker score (adjusted OR 2.07; 95% CI 1.29-3.32; P = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Myopic participants had significantly lower 25(OH)D₃ concentrations. The prevalence of myopia was significantly higher in individuals with vitamin D deficiency compared to the individuals with sufficient levels. Longitudinal studies are warranted to investigate whether higher serum 25(OH)D₃ concentration is protective against myopia or whether it is acting as a proxy for some other biologically effective consequence of sun exposure.
authors: Centre for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of Western Australia and the Lions Eye Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: Seyhan
authors: S
authors: Yazar
authors: Centre for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of Western Australia and the Lions Eye Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia Centre for Eye Research Australia, Melbourne University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Alex W
authors: AW
authors: Hewitt
authors: Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: Lucinda J
authors: LJ
authors: Black
authors: Centre for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of Western Australia and the Lions Eye Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: Charlotte M
authors: CM
authors: McKnight
authors: Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: Jenny A
authors: JA
authors: Mountain
authors: Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
authors: Justin C
authors: JC
authors: Sherwin
authors: Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: Wendy H
authors: WH
authors: Oddy
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors: Minas T
authors: MT
authors: Coroneo
authors: Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
authors: Robyn M
authors: RM
authors: Lucas
authors: Centre for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of Western Australia and the Lions Eye Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Mackey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009216:Myopia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D013472:Sunlight; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D002112:Calcifediol
keywords: Raine Study,; myopia,; ocular sun exposure; vitamin D,; young adults