Universiti Sains Malaysia, School of Medical Sciences, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Med J Malaysia. 2024 Sep;79(5):499-506.
Little is known about the prevalence of refractive errors and amblyopia among school children on the islands of East Coast Malaysia. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of these conditions and their associated factors in this unique and remote geographical location.
This multicentre cross-sectional school-based study included 480 children aged 7 to 12 year from primary schools on the islands of the East Coast of Malaysia. All children underwent visual acuity assessment, orthoptic evaluation, anterior and posterior segment examinations and manifest refraction. Demographic data, history of parental refractive error, parental education level, duration of digital screen time and time spent outdoors were documented in a questionnaire distributed to the parents.
The mean age was 9.53 ± 1.69 years, with an equal distribution of genders. The ethnic composition of the subjects was 99.4% Malay and 0.6% Orang Asli. The overall prevalence of refractive errors was 11.9% (95% CI: 9.1 to 15.1%), with myopia at 7.1% (95% CI: 5.0 to 9.8%), hyperopia at 2.5% (95% CI: 1.3 to 4.3%), astigmatism at 2.3% (95% CI: 1.1 to 4.1%) and amblyopia at 2.5% (95% CI: 1.3 to 4.3%). Older age, an absence of parental history of refractive error and reduced daily outdoor time were significantly associated with refractive errors (p < 0.05).
The prevalence of refractive error is 11.9% and amblyopia is 2.5% among primary school children on the islands of the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Older age, an absence of parental history of refractive error and reduced daily outdoor time are associated with refractive error.
东海岸马来西亚岛屿上的学童屈光不正和弱视的患病率知之甚少。本研究旨在调查这一独特而偏远地理位置的这些情况的患病率及其相关因素。
这是一项多中心、横断面的基于学校的研究，包括来自马来西亚东海岸岛屿小学的 480 名 7 至 12 岁的儿童。所有儿童均接受视力评估、斜视评估、眼前段和眼后段检查以及主观验光。在向家长发放的问卷中记录了人口统计学数据、父母屈光不正史、父母受教育程度、数字屏幕时间和户外活动时间。
平均年龄为 9.53 ± 1.69 岁，性别分布均衡。受试者的种族构成为 99.4%马来人，0.6%为原住民族。屈光不正的总体患病率为 11.9%（95%CI：9.1 至 15.1%），其中近视患病率为 7.1%（95%CI：5.0 至 9.8%），远视患病率为 2.5%（95%CI：1.3 至 4.3%），散光患病率为 2.3%（95%CI：1.1 至 4.1%），弱视患病率为 2.5%（95%CI：1.3 至 4.3%）。年龄较大、父母无屈光不正史和每日户外活动时间减少与屈光不正显著相关（p < 0.05）。
在马来西亚半岛东海岸岛屿上的小学生中，屈光不正的患病率为 11.9%，弱视的患病率为 2.5%。年龄较大、父母无屈光不正史和每日户外活动时间减少与屈光不正有关。
