A Study of Prevailing Features and Causes of Myopia and Visual Impairment in Urban School Children.

Kim, Jae Chan; Koo, Bon Sool

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 1988;29(1):165-181.
Published online January 1, 1988.

A Study of Prevailing Features and Causes of Myopia and Visual Impairment in Urban School Children.

Jae Chan Kim, Bon Sool Koo

Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea.

도시학동의 시력 장애와 근시의 실태 및 원인에 관한 연구 - 환경 요인에 의한 발생 원인의 관찰 -

김재찬(Jae Chan Kim),구본술(Bon Sool Koo)

Abstract

In order to elucidate the present features of visual-impairments related to refractive errors including myopia and causative factors of myopia among urban school children, visual acuity, refractive components on the myopia, and socioenvironmental factors were examined among 4,004 primary, middle and high school children in Seoul. It was conceived that the results were facilitated for the future improvements of the Eye Health Plan for the school children in this country. This study reveals that visual impairments and prevalence of myopia increase with the school grade(age), and progression of myopia begins earlier in girls than boys. The Progress of myopia is closely related with elongation of ocular axial length along with vitreous A-P length and compensatory reduction of radius of radius of corneal curvature were more apparent in myopia of -0.5 ~ -5.0 D than the group of over -5.0 D. According to the analysis of ancilliary questionnaire, we have got a conclusion that it is statistically significant that the myopization of the ocular structure appeared susceptible with the socio-environmental factors such as eating habits, T.V. watching period and distance, reading hours, distance and type of illumination, and school achievement, which are mainly related to near work. From the results, it is deducible that by improving such environmental factors the myopia in some proportion would be preventable especially in younger children.