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Education level may influence myopia in adults
New data suggest that environmental factors can affect the degree of myopia.
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A Correction of Myopia Evaluation Trial spinoff study investigating myopia in the parents of the trial’s subjects found that environmental factors, such as education and occupation, produced a significant effect on refractive error.
According to the study, parents with a college-level degree or higher were significantly more myopic, and more inclined to be myopic, than parents with lower statuses of education. Also, parents were more likely to be myopic if they worked in white collar jobs than if they worked in blue collar jobs.
“Genetic susceptibility may partially account for myopia, especially high myopia, in any population, including a highly educated one,” Li Deng, PhD, associate professor of biostatistics at the New England College of Optometry and one of the study’s authors, said in an interview with Primary Care Optometry News. “Environmental factors include prolonged near work associated with reading and studying and/or less sports/outdoor activity.”
In the study, data on 627 parents of the 469 myopic children enrolled in the Correction of Myopia Evaluation Trial (COMET) were collected and analyzed based on their level of myopia, their type of occupation and their highest level of education achieved.
The mean spherical equivalent refraction of all parents was -2.34 D ± 2.97 D in those with at least a college degree and -1.72 D ± 2.76 D in parents with less than college education. The mean myopia of parents employed in white collar jobs was -2.87 D ± 3.10 D, while those employed in blue collar jobs was -1.21 D ± 2.02D (P < .001). Their mean age was 44.26 ±5.81 years.
“The parents of myopic children participating in [COMET] had a high prevalence of myopia that was associated with their level of education and, to a lesser extent, with their choice of occupation. To our knowledge, this is the first account of refractive errors, education and occupation in parents of a large group of myopic children,” the study authors said.
“An interesting fact from the two studies was that the average amount of myopia was the same in the children and their parents,” Dr. Deng added. – by Daniel R. Morgan
Reference:
- Gwiazda J, Deng L, Dias L, et al. Association of education and occupation with myopia in COMET parents. Optometry & Vision Science. 2011;88(9):1045-1053.
- Li Deng, PhD, is an associate professor of biostatistics at the New England College of Optometry and can be reached at 424 Beacon St., Boston MA 02115; (617) 266-2030; DengL@neco.edu.
