Citation

Zhang M, Congdon N, Li L, Song Y, Choi K, Wang Y, Zhou Z, Liu X, Sharma A, Chen W, Lam DS. Arch. Ophthalmol. (1960) 2009; 127(6): 776-783.

Affiliation

Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Dongxia North Rd, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, China. zmz@jsiec.org

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, American Medical Association)

DOI

10.1001/archophthalmol.2009.104

PMID

19506197

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of myopia and spectacle wear on bicycle-related injuries in rural Chinese students. Myopia is common among Chinese students but few studies have examined its effect on daily activities. METHODS: Data on visual acuity, refractive error, current spectacle wear, and history of bicycle use and accidents during the past 3 years were sought from 1891 students undergoing eye examinations in rural Guangdong province. RESULTS: Refractive and accident data were available for 1539 participants (81.3%), among whom the mean age was 14.6 years, 52.5% were girls, 26.8% wore glasses, and 12.9% had myopia of less than -4 diopters in both eyes. More than 90% relied on bicycles to get to school daily. A total of 2931 accidents were reported by 423 participants, with 68 requiring medical attention. Male sex (odds ratio, 1.55; P < .001) and spectacle wear (odds ratio, 1.38; P = .04) were associated with a higher risk of accident, but habitual visual acuity and myopia were unassociated with the crash risk, after adjusting for age, sex, time spent riding, and risky riding behaviors. CONCLUSION: These results may be consistent with data on motor vehicle accidents implicating peripheral vision (potentially compromised by spectacle wear) more strongly than central visual acuity in mediating crash risk.

Language: en