Axial Length and Prevalence of Myopia among Schoolchildren in the Equatorial Region of Brazil

The prevalence of myopia is increasing globally, and the outdoor light environment is considered as a possible factor that can retard myopia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of myopia and the light environment in Aracati, equatorial Brazil. We surveyed 421 children (421 right ey...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of clinical medicine 2020-12, Vol.10 (1), p.115
Main Authors: Yotsukura, Erisa, Torii, Hidemasa, Ozawa, Hiroko, Hida, Richard Yudi, Shiraishi, Tetsuro, Corso Teixeira, Ivan, Rautha, Yessa Vervloet Bertollo Lamego, Moraes do Nascimento, Caio Felipe, Mori, Kiwako, Uchino, Miki, Kurihara, Toshihide, Negishi, Kazuno, Tsubota, Kazuo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Body mass index
Children & youth
Clinical medicine
Families & family life
Light
Outdoor activities
Outdoors
Parents & parenting
Questionnaires
Regression analysis
Students
Systemic diseases
Variables
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Summary:The prevalence of myopia is increasing globally, and the outdoor light environment is considered as a possible factor that can retard myopia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of myopia and the light environment in Aracati, equatorial Brazil. We surveyed 421 children (421 right eyes; mean age, 10.6 years) and performed ocular examinations that included non-cycloplegic refraction and axial length (AL). Multiple regression analyses were performed to identify factors affecting myopia such as time spent outdoors and in near work. We measured illuminance and violet light irradiance in Aracati. The mean spherical equivalent (SE) and AL were -0.44 ± 1.38 diopters (D) and 22.98 ± 0.87 mm, respectively. The prevalence of myopia (SE ≤ -0.75 D) and high myopia (SE ≤ -6.0 D/AL ≥ 26.0 mm) was 20.4 and 1.4/0.48%, respectively. Multiple regression analyses showed that myopia was not associated with lifestyle factors. The average illuminance in Aracati was about 100,000 lux from morning to evening. The current results reflect the ALs and the prevalence of myopia among Brazilian schoolchildren. There is a possibility that the light environment in addition to other confounding factors including racial differences affects the ALs and refractive errors.
ISSN:2077-0383
2077-0383
DOI:10.3390/jcm10010115