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Breastfeeding and association with refractive error in young Singapore Chinese children
W K Sham1, M Dirani, Y S Chong
1Faculty of Science, Department of Statistics and Applied Probability, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Insights
Breastfeeding is linked to more hyperopic refractive error in young Chinese children. This study found no association between breastfeeding and myopia development in Singaporean preschoolers.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Refractive errors are a significant global health concern in children.
- Understanding early life factors, such as breastfeeding, is crucial for eye health.
- Previous research on breastfeeding and refractive error has yielded mixed results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between breastfeeding and spherical refractive error in young Chinese children.
- To determine if breastfeeding duration influences refractive error outcomes.
- To explore the relationship between breastfeeding and myopia prevalence.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional population-based study (Strabismus, amblyopia, and refractive errors in Singaporean preschoolers - STARS).
- Involved 2639 Chinese children aged 6-72 months in Singapore.
- Face-to-face interviews assessed breastfeeding history; refractive error measured via refraction assessment.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of myopia (spherical equivalent refraction ≤ -0.5 dioptres) was 11.3%.
- Breastfed children had a mean spherical equivalent refraction 0.12 D higher than non-breastfed children (P=0.03).
- No significant association was found between breastfeeding and myopia (adjusted OR=0.85).
Conclusions:
- Breastfeeding is associated with more hyperopic spherical equivalent refraction in young Chinese children.
- The findings suggest a potential protective effect of breastfeeding against myopia progression.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms behind this association.
Purpose:
The objective of this study was to investigate an association between spherical refractive error and breastfeeding.
Methods:
Strabismus, amblyopia, and refractive errors in Singaporean preschoolers (STARS) is a cross-sectional population-based study of 3009 Chinese children aged 6-72 months conducted between June 2006 and September 2008 in Singapore. Parents were asked about the history of breastfeeding in face-to-face interviews. Children without cycloplegia or without refraction assessment were excluded. The final sample analysed was 2639 children (1375 male, 1264 female).
Results:
Out of those who were breastfed, 842 (41.3%) were breastfed for more than 3 months and 599 (29.4%) were breastfed longer than 6 months. The prevalence of myopia, defined as the spherical equivalent refraction of the right eye of at least -0.5 dioptres (D), was 11.3% (95% CI (10.1, 12.5)). The mean spherical equivalent refraction of breastfed children was 0.12 D higher than that of children who were not breastfed (P-value=0.03). Breastfeeding, however, was not associated with myopia (adjusted OR=0.85; 95% CI (0.62, 1.18)).
Conclusions:
The results show that breastfeeding is associated with more hyperopic spherical equivalent refraction in young Chinese children in Singapore.
