| Myopia is a refractive defect of the eye in which collimated light produces image focus in front of the retina when accommodation is relaxed. Amongst all the strata of age, prevalence rate of myopia in school children is the highest, which, for the worse, keeps mounting.Although it is still unclear that which are the definite causes of the disorder, experts maintains that shortsightedness usually results from genetic, developmental, environmental factors and/or a mixture of above all. Among these, near-work activities are deemed the most paramount external risk factors, which is evaluated by such parameters as time of reading (or other near-work activities including watching TV, using computer, etc.) and environmental factors.Purpose:To explore probable risk factors associated with juvenile myopia, and to determine prevalence of myopia among school children by means of cross-sectional investigation, refractive examination and data analysis.Objects:A total of 9937 students (age 6～14) in one of the five primary schools, four middle schools and two nine-year-consistent-system school of Baoshan·District in Shanghai, China were enrolled.Methods:A questionnaire survey and a refractive examination were adopted. The questionnaires were given out and gathered by healthcare teachers of each school. Visual and optical examinations were conducted by ophthalmologists from The Baoshan center Hospital. Data of collected questionnaires and examination results were pooled and analyzed with software (SPSS).Results:1、Statistically analyzed the collected 9521 questionnaires,15 of all the eye-utilizing habits and life style related indexes were statistically significant among different age groups. Age had a positive correlation with such indexes as time-of reading and writing, of study after school, of gazing at screens (TV and Computer) within the term, of gazing at screens (Computer) during vacations (winter or summer), and of daily out-door activities-, proportion-of standard way of holding a pen, posture of writing, eye-book distance -and population of reading in bed, during walk or taking a bus, studying stress viewed by parents and knowledge of eye care; while a negative one with eye-book distance, meat diet, population of practice instruments or painting, time in bed and regular life style.In addition,10 of all indexes were evidently associated with gender. More boys tended to maintain standard writing postures, to spare more time on screens within terms, to eat more flesh and not to read during walk or taking buses; whereas girls were prone to wearing goggles bear more knowledge of using and protecting eyes in mind, to spend more time in study and practice instruments or painting, to spend less time on screens during vacations, to eat more fruits and vegetables and to endure higher studying stress than boys.2、Among 6～14 age students, the prevalence rates of poor vision and myopia were 46.7% and 35.8%, which had a tendency of increase with age. There were no significant differences between 6～9 age boys and girls with respect to the prevalence rate of poor vision and myopia, while in girls over 10 years were obviously higher than that of boys. The prevalence rate of moderate, high and severe myopia in girls were all obviously higher than boys.3、Statistics showed that the degree of myopia were associated with these factors: frequency and eye-book distance of reading in bed, holding-pen posture, reading during walk or taking a bus, time of study after school, extra-class continuation,outdoor activity, time of using a computer whatever in holidays or during term,keeping irregular schedule,sleeping time.Multivariate analysis showed that age, gender, eye-book distance, writing posture and time of study after school were the correlative factors, and ages was the major factor.Conclusions and suggestions:1、Most of these junior and senior school students had failed to develop correct reading and writing habits. The knowledge of eye care was not enough in parents.It was indicated to strengthen the monitoring of eye-utilizing in students and more public education of eye care and eye diseases.2、Prevalence of myopia in Baoshan District was almost at the same level of that in Shanghai, and was higher than that in China. There is a gradual upward trend of the prevalence rate of poor vision and myopia among students aged 6～14 years. The prevalence of myopia in girls was serious than boys.3、Pathogen of myopia, as a complex, is affected by comprehensive risk factors. This study evidenced that age, gender and Eye-book distance, writing posture and time of study after school were the major ones. We had best incorporate integrated policies and strategies into prevention of juvenile myopia. |
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