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Published on: January 22, 2019
Effect of parental myopia on the development of myopia in Hong Kong Chinese
1Department of Optometry and Radiography, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
Insights
Parental myopia did not predict myopia in Hong Kong Chinese children. Despite 53% of 12-year-olds being myopic, parental refractive status showed no association with childhood myopia development.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Genetics
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Myopia prevalence is increasing globally, particularly in East Asian populations.
- Understanding the genetic and environmental factors influencing myopia development is crucial for intervention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between parental myopia and the development of myopia in Hong Kong Chinese children.
- To explore the inheritance pattern of myopia in this specific population.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of Hong Kong Chinese children from age 7 to 12 years.
- Annual measurements of refractive error and ocular axial length.
- Assessment of parental refractive status.
Main Results:
- At age 12 years, 53% of children were myopic.
- No significant association was found between parental myopia and childhood myopia.
- Probabilities of myopia in children with myopic parents were 0.55 and 0.6, but no differences in refractive error or axial length were observed based on parental myopia status.
Conclusions:
- Parental myopia status does not appear to be a significant predictor of myopia in Hong Kong Chinese children.
- The genetic influence on myopia may differ between Caucasian and Chinese populations.
- Further research is needed to understand potential confounding factors like non-expression of myopia genotypes in parents.
Abstract:
A representative sample of Hong Kong Chinese children was followed from 7 to 12 years of age. Refractive error was measured every year (n = 123 at age 7 years and n = 83 at age 12 years), the axial length of the eye was measured at age 12 years (n = 81) and the refractive status of the parents was also determined. Thirty-one percent of the parents in the sample were myopic and at the age of 12 years 53% of the children were myopic. There was no association between the refractive status of the parents and whether or not a child had myopia. The probability of a 12-year-old child with early-onset myopia having at least one myopic parent was 0.55 and the probability of myopic parents having a myopic child was 0.6. There was no difference in the refractive error or the axial length of 12-year-old children according to whether neither, one or both parents were myopic. The genetic influence on myopia may be different in Caucasian and Chinese children, although it is also possible that non-expression of the genotype in the parents may have confounded the determination of the inheritance pattern of myopia in Hong Kong Chinese children.
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