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Increased ultraviolet exposure may prevent myopia progression
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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Spending more time outdoors could prevent the progression of myopia, a presenter said here.
"We identified a strong protective association between UV autofluorescence and myopia," Alex W. Hewitt, MD, PhD, said at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting.
The study included 636 permanent residents of Norfolk Island, Australia, who were at least 15 years old (mean age: 54.1 years). Participants completed a standardized sun-exposure questionnaire and were examined with autorefraction, slit-lamp biomicroscopy and conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence (UVAF) photography.
The mean spherical equivalence of participants was 0.56 D (range: -9 D to +8 D), and the median total amount of conjunctival UVAF was 0.282 cm².
According to logistic regression, there was a significant association between refractive error and total conjunctival UVAF area (P = .006). Dr. Hewitt and colleagues found an inverse, linear relationship between UVAF and advancing age (P < .001).
After adjusting for age, gender, height and weight, the odds ratio for people in the lowest quartile of conjunctival UVAF to develop myopia was 3.14, he said.
Further study is necessary to determine whether wearing glasses or contact lenses prevents conjunctival UVAF.
- Disclosure: Dr. Hewitt has no direct financial interests to disclose.