The association of myopia progression with family history of myopia, nearwork, and other risk factors among Singapore schoolchildren: A 2 year follow-up study

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the progression rate of myopia and the possible risk factors among Singapore schoolchildren. Methods: A 2-year follow-up study was carried out among 642 myopic (SER at least - 0.5 D) schoolchildren aged 7-9 years at baseline. Results: The 2-year cumulative progression rate of myopia was -1.57 D (SD=0.81 D). After multivariate analysis, younger age (p<0.001), female gender (p<0.001), and higher educational levels of fathers (pA#0.050) were significantly associated with 2-year progression of myopia. Among all ocular components, AL (correlation coefficient r = 0.67, P<0.001) and VCD change (correlation coefficient r = 0.84, P<0.001) were significantly associated with myopia progression. Conclusion: The risk factors with significant association with myopia progression were younger baseline age, female, and higher educational levels of fathers but not nearwork activities and parental myopia after controlling for confounders in our study. AL and VCD change were determinant factors for myopia progression.