title: Differences in prevalence of refractive errors in young Asian males in Singapore between 1996-1997 and 2009-2010.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the differences in prevalence rates of refractive errors in young Singaporean males over a 13-year period between 1996-1997 and 2009-2010 METHODS: Non-cycloplegic autorefraction data were obtained in a survey of 15,085 young male subjects (mean age 19.5 ± 1.4 years, range 16-25 years) in 1996-1997 using a Nikon NRK-8000 autorefractor. A second survey of 28,908 male subjects (mean age 19.8 ± 1.2 years, range 17-29 years) was conducted in 2009-2010 using a Huvitz MRK-3100 autorefractor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of myopia (spherical equivalent, SEq, worse than -0.5 diopters, D) was similar in 2009-2010 (81.6%) and 1996-1997 (79.2%; odds ratio 1.38, 95% confidence interval 1.31-1.46; p < 0.001). The prevalence of high myopia (SEq worse than -6.0D) increased from 13.1% in 1996-1997 to 14.7% in 2009-2010 (p < 0.001). The prevalence of refractive astigmatism increased significantly from 41.4% in 1996-1997 to 50.9% in 2009-2010 (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that the prevalence of myopia and high myopia remained high and the prevalence of astigmatism increased in young male adults in Singapore over a 13-year period after controlling for age, education and ethnicity.
authors.affiliation: Singapore Armed Forces Vision Performance Centre, Military Medicine Institute , Singapore .
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Adeline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Seang Mei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Saw
authors.forename: Yiong Huak
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Sheng Tong
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Mellisa Mei Hui
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Frederick
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tey
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nah
authors.forename: M Kamran
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ikram
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Astigmatism; Singapore; epidemiology; myopia; refractive error