Related Experiment Videos
Refractive errors in a black adult population: the Barbados Eye Study
S Y Wu1, B Nemesure, M C Leske
1Department of Preventive Medicine, University at Stony Brook, New York 11794-8036, USA. swu@uhmc.sunysb.edu
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
|September 7, 1999
Summary
This study found high rates of myopia and hyperopia in Black adults in Barbados. Refractive error prevalence varied by age and sex, with myopia increasing after age 60.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Population Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Refractive errors, including myopia and hyperopia, are common visual impairments.
- Understanding their prevalence in diverse populations is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of myopia and hyperopia in a Black adult population in Barbados.
- To investigate associations between refractive errors and demographic and ocular factors.
Main Methods:
- Population-based study of 4,036 Black adults (40-84 years) in Barbados.
- Automated refraction used to define myopia (spherical equivalent <-0.5D) and hyperopia (spherical equivalent >+0.5D).
- Logistic regression analyses explored associations with various factors.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of myopia was 21.9% (higher in men) and hyperopia was 46.9% (higher in women).
- Myopia prevalence decreased with age until 60, then increased; hyperopia increased with age until 59, then decreased.
- Myopia associated with nearwork, nuclear opacities, posterior subcapsular opacities, glaucoma, and ocular hypertension.
Conclusions:
- High prevalences of myopia and hyperopia were observed in this Black adult population.
- Age-related prevalence patterns differed from other populations, potentially due to high rates of ocular conditions.
- Findings highlight the need for targeted eye care in this demographic.