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Academic achievement, close up work parameters, and myopia in Singapore military conscripts.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Saw, SM; Wu, HM; Seet, B; Wong, TY; Yap, E; Chia, KS; Stone, RA; Lee, L
Published in: Br J Ophthalmol
July 2001

AIM: To determine the relation of refractive error to environmental factors, including close up work, in Singapore military conscripts. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted on 429 Singapore military conscripts. Non-cycloplegic refraction and A-scan biometry were performed in both eyes. A detailed questionnaire was administered by in-person interview to obtain information about current and past near work activity, extra tuition lessons, educational experiences, and family demographics. RESULTS: Myopia associated with the conscript having been educated in the (gifted, special, or express) educational streams (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 3.8, 95% confidence interval CI 2.0-7.3), and having completed pre-university education (OR=4.1, 95% CI 1.9-8.8). The reported close up work activity at age 7 years did correlate with age of onset of myopia (p<0.001). In parallel, supplemental tuition lessons in primary school has (OR=2.6, 95% CI 1.4-4.9) associated with conscript myopia. Parental myopia was positively associated with myopia (p<0.001), but this relation disappeared when adjusted for environmental factors. Current (p=0.83) and past close up work activity at age 7 years (p=0.13) did not correlate with myopia. CONCLUSION: Educational level and educational stream positively related to myopia. A relation was observed with reported close up work activity in early childhood and with tuition classes during elementary school, but not with current close up work activity. These results underscore the strong influence of environment in myopia pathogenesis but a role for close up work activity remains indeterminate.

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Published In

Br J Ophthalmol

DOI

ISSN

0007-1161

Publication Date

July 2001

Volume

85

Issue

7

Start / End Page

855 / 860

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Singapore
  • Reading
  • Parents
  • Ophthalmology & Optometry
  • Myopia
  • Military Personnel
  • Male
  • Logistic Models
  • Humans
  • Educational Status
 

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Saw, S. M., Wu, H. M., Seet, B., Wong, T. Y., Yap, E., Chia, K. S., … Lee, L. (2001). Academic achievement, close up work parameters, and myopia in Singapore military conscripts. Br J Ophthalmol, 85(7), 855–860. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjo.85.7.855
Saw, S. M., H. M. Wu, B. Seet, T. Y. Wong, E. Yap, K. S. Chia, R. A. Stone, and L. Lee. “Academic achievement, close up work parameters, and myopia in Singapore military conscripts.Br J Ophthalmol 85, no. 7 (July 2001): 855–60. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjo.85.7.855.
Saw SM, Wu HM, Seet B, Wong TY, Yap E, Chia KS, et al. Academic achievement, close up work parameters, and myopia in Singapore military conscripts. Br J Ophthalmol. 2001 Jul;85(7):855–60.
Saw, S. M., et al. “Academic achievement, close up work parameters, and myopia in Singapore military conscripts.Br J Ophthalmol, vol. 85, no. 7, July 2001, pp. 855–60. Pubmed, doi:10.1136/bjo.85.7.855.
Saw SM, Wu HM, Seet B, Wong TY, Yap E, Chia KS, Stone RA, Lee L. Academic achievement, close up work parameters, and myopia in Singapore military conscripts. Br J Ophthalmol. 2001 Jul;85(7):855–860.

Published In

Br J Ophthalmol

DOI

ISSN

0007-1161

Publication Date

July 2001

Volume

85

Issue

7

Start / End Page

855 / 860

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Singapore
  • Reading
  • Parents
  • Ophthalmology & Optometry
  • Myopia
  • Military Personnel
  • Male
  • Logistic Models
  • Humans
  • Educational Status