Myopia has become epidemic in the world. Without effective control, the progression may lead to excessive myopia with severe complications affecting vision and ocular alignment. The genetic factors and environmental factors of myopia are closely interrelated to each other. Asian ethnicity and parental myopia, among other genetic factors, influence the refractive outcome dramatically when enviro...

Myopia is a problem of public health concern in Singapore for three reasons. Firstly, the prevalence of myopia (more than −0.5 dioptres (D)) is one of the highest worldwide. Twenty per cent of Singapore children are myopic at 7 years at the start of their primary education, with prevalence exceeding 70% upon completing college education. Other population based studies showed myopia prevalence o...

PURPOSE To investigate the impact of a positive family history of high myopia on the level and onset of myopia and its ocular components. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted. The participants (aged 17 to 45 years) were categorized into four groups: normal, mild, moderate, and high myopia. The age of first glasses for myopia was used as the onset of myopia. The impact of the family h...

This is a review of the current literature describing the effect of atropine, bifocals, and/or contact lenses on slowing the progression of myopia. Cumulative data from a number of studies have demonstrated atropine instilled once a day in myopic eyes resulted in a 90% average reduction of myopia progression, as compared to untreated eyes, i.e., from 0.50 D/year to 0.05 D/year. Pirenzepine, a m...

Myopia is considered to be a leading cause of visual impairment. Furthermore, the prevalence of myopia in young adolescents has increased substantially over the past few decades. Although myopia was identified more than two thousands years ago, a consistently effective approach to myopia control for all patients still eludes clinicians. Among all the treatments mentioned in this review, the mos...

PURPOSE We sought to determine whether conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence (UVAF), a biomarker of outdoor light exposure, is associated with myopia. METHODS We performed a cross-sectional study on Norfolk Island and recruited individuals aged ≥ 15 years. Participants completed a sun-exposure questionnaire and underwent non-cycloplegic autorefraction. Conjunctival UVAF used a specially a...

PURPOSE To examine associations between myopia and measures of urbanization in a population-based sample of 12-year-old Australian children. METHODS Questionnaire data on sociodemographic and environmental factors including ethnicity, parental education, and time spent in near work and outdoor activities were collected from 2367 children (75.0% response) and their parents. Population density ...