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Myopia and night lighting in children in Singapore
1Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, National University of Singapore, Republic of Singapore. cofsawsm@nus.edu.sg
Insights
Night time lighting does not appear to cause myopia (nearsightedness) in young children. This study found no link between exposure to light at night and the development of myopia in Asian populations.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a growing public health concern globally.
- The role of environmental factors, such as night time lighting, in myopia development is under investigation.
- Previous research has yielded conflicting results regarding the association between night light exposure and myopia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between night time lighting exposure and myopia in children residing in Singapore.
- To determine if early-life exposure to night light influences the prevalence of myopia.
- To analyze the relationship between night light and ocular biometry in children.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 1001 children from two schools in Singapore.
- Ophthalmological examinations included cycloplegic refraction and A-scan biometry.
- Parental questionnaires collected data on night time lighting, near work, and other relevant factors.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in myopia prevalence was observed between children exposed to night light (33.1%) and those sleeping in darkness (31.4%) before age 2.
- Vitreous chamber depth, a measure of eye growth, showed no correlation with night light exposure (p = 0.58) in this age group.
- These findings persisted even after adjusting for the amount of near work performed by the children.
Conclusions:
- Night time lighting exposure is not associated with myopia development in the studied Asian population.
- The findings suggest that other factors may play a more significant role in the etiology of myopia in children.
- Further research is warranted to explore the complex multifactorial nature of myopia.
Aim:
To examine the role of night time lighting and myopia in children in Singapore
Methods:
A cross sectional study was conducted on 1001 children in two Singapore schools. Cycloplegic refraction and A-scan biometry measurements were made in both eyes. A detailed questionnaire was completed by the parents to obtain information on night time lighting, near work activity, educational and demographic factors.
Results:
There was no difference in myopia prevalence rates in children exposed to night time light (33.1%) compared with children who slept in the dark (31.4%) before age 2. In addition, vitreous chamber depth was not related to night light (p = 0.58) before age 2. These results remained even after controlling for near work.
Conclusion:
Myopia is not associated with night light in Asian populations.