The Association between Myopia and Gender in Indian Schoolchildren in Kuala Lumpur

Authors

  • Norhani Mohidin Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
  • Saadah Mohd Akhir Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
  • Bariah Mohd Ali Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
  • Zainora Mohammed Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
  • Sharanjeet Kaur Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
  • Chung K.M. Chung Optometry

Keywords:

myopia, gender, sex, schoolchildren, retinoscopy

Abstract

A vision screening study was carried out among Indian schoolchildren around Kuala Lumpur to determine whether the prevalence of myopia was higher in boys or girls. Altogether 749 students (49.7% boys and 50.3% girls) aged 7-18 years were screened and their refractive error examined using retinoscopy without cycloplegia. For the right eye 15.1% of the girls’ eyes were found to be myopic as compared to 16.9% of the boys, of which chi-square showed no significant difference (p = 0.44). For the left eye 18.8% of the girls’ eyes were myopic as compared to 16.4% of the boys. Chi square also showed no significant difference (p = 0.26). When high myopia (> -6.00D) was considered, there was no difference found between boys and girls. The number of students with high myopia greater than -6.00D was also very small (0.3%-0.5%). In conclusion, it was found that there was no significant difference in myopia between girls and boys among Indian schoolchildren.

Author Biographies

Norhani Mohidin, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Department of OptometryFaculty of Allied Health Science

Saadah Mohd Akhir, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Department of OptometryFaculty of Allied Health Science

Bariah Mohd Ali, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Department of OptometryFaculty of Allied Health Science

Zainora Mohammed, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Department of OptometryFaculty of Allied Health Science

Sharanjeet Kaur, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Department of OptometryFaculty of Allied Health Science

Chung K.M., Chung Optometry

Consultant

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Published

2005-12-31

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 2 (2005)

Section

Articles

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