Role of Gender in the Prevalence of Myopia among Polish Schoolchildren

Purpose. The aim of the paper was to study the role of gender in the progression of myopia among Polish schoolchildren. Materials and Methods. 4875 children from elementary schools and high schools were examined (2470 boys, aged 6–16 years, mean age 11.0, SD = 2.6 and 2405 girls, aged 6–16 years, me...

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Main Authors: Maciej Czepita, Damian Czepita, Krzysztof Safranow
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-01-01
Series:Journal of Ophthalmology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/9748576
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author Maciej Czepita
Damian Czepita
Krzysztof Safranow
author_facet Maciej Czepita
Damian Czepita
Krzysztof Safranow
author_sort Maciej Czepita
collection DOAJ
description Purpose. The aim of the paper was to study the role of gender in the progression of myopia among Polish schoolchildren. Materials and Methods. 4875 children from elementary schools and high schools were examined (2470 boys, aged 6–16 years, mean age 11.0, SD = 2.6 and 2405 girls, aged 6–16 years, mean age 11.1, SD = 2.6). The examined students were Caucasian and resided in and around Szczecin, Poland. The examination included retinoscopy under cycloplegia. The refractive error readings were reported as spherical equivalent (SE). Myopia was defined as SE of at least −0.5 D. Data analysis was performed using the Mann–Whitney U test and 2-sided Fisher’s exact test. p values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results. It was found that the SE among Polish boys is similar to the SE among Polish girls before the age of 9 years. However, in older children, lower SE values and higher prevalence of myopia were found among girls than boys, both at 9–13 years range (0.45 ± 1.05 vs 0.55 ± 1.23 D, p=0.047 and 8.30% vs 5.71%, p=0.015, respectively) and at 13–16 years range (0.32 ± 1.14 vs 0.54 ± 1.08 D,  p=0.0093 and 10.37% vs 5.96%, p=0.0050), respectively. Conclusions. Gender is associated with the prevalence of myopia among Polish schoolchildren ranging from 9 to 16 years of age.
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spelling doaj-art-6fe744a4b8244cf4a8e2d942b282b9862025-08-20T02:06:13ZengWileyJournal of Ophthalmology2090-004X2090-00582019-01-01201910.1155/2019/97485769748576Role of Gender in the Prevalence of Myopia among Polish SchoolchildrenMaciej Czepita0Damian Czepita1Krzysztof Safranow22nd Department of Ophthalmology, Pomeranian Medical University, al. Powstańców Wlkp. 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland2nd Department of Ophthalmology, Pomeranian Medical University, al. Powstańców Wlkp. 72, 70-111 Szczecin, PolandDepartment of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Pomeranian Medical University, al. Powstańców Wlkp. 72, 70-111 Szczecin, PolandPurpose. The aim of the paper was to study the role of gender in the progression of myopia among Polish schoolchildren. Materials and Methods. 4875 children from elementary schools and high schools were examined (2470 boys, aged 6–16 years, mean age 11.0, SD = 2.6 and 2405 girls, aged 6–16 years, mean age 11.1, SD = 2.6). The examined students were Caucasian and resided in and around Szczecin, Poland. The examination included retinoscopy under cycloplegia. The refractive error readings were reported as spherical equivalent (SE). Myopia was defined as SE of at least −0.5 D. Data analysis was performed using the Mann–Whitney U test and 2-sided Fisher’s exact test. p values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results. It was found that the SE among Polish boys is similar to the SE among Polish girls before the age of 9 years. However, in older children, lower SE values and higher prevalence of myopia were found among girls than boys, both at 9–13 years range (0.45 ± 1.05 vs 0.55 ± 1.23 D, p=0.047 and 8.30% vs 5.71%, p=0.015, respectively) and at 13–16 years range (0.32 ± 1.14 vs 0.54 ± 1.08 D,  p=0.0093 and 10.37% vs 5.96%, p=0.0050), respectively. Conclusions. Gender is associated with the prevalence of myopia among Polish schoolchildren ranging from 9 to 16 years of age.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/9748576
spellingShingle Maciej Czepita
Damian Czepita
Krzysztof Safranow
Role of Gender in the Prevalence of Myopia among Polish Schoolchildren
Journal of Ophthalmology
title Role of Gender in the Prevalence of Myopia among Polish Schoolchildren
title_full Role of Gender in the Prevalence of Myopia among Polish Schoolchildren
title_fullStr Role of Gender in the Prevalence of Myopia among Polish Schoolchildren
title_full_unstemmed Role of Gender in the Prevalence of Myopia among Polish Schoolchildren
title_short Role of Gender in the Prevalence of Myopia among Polish Schoolchildren
title_sort role of gender in the prevalence of myopia among polish schoolchildren
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/9748576
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