Recalled age of myopia onset may predict risk of high adult myopia in China

Abstract

Purpose To investigate the relationship between age of myopia onset and high myopia; To explore if age of onset mediates the associations of high myopia with parental myopia and time spent on electronics. Design: Case-control study Methods This retrospective study enrolled myopic patients aged 18 to 40 years at Tianjin Airport Medical Examination Center. Information on age of myopia onset and other risk factors was obtained via a detailed questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression and linear regression models were utilized to assess age of onset in relation to high myopia and spherical equivalent refractive error, respectively. Structural equation models examined the mediated effect of onset age on the association between parental myopia, time spent on electronics and high myopia. Results An early age at myopia onset was negatively correlated with spherical equivalent refractive power. Subjects who developed myopia before the age of 12 were more likely to suffer from high myopia than those who developed myopia after the age of 15. Age of myopia onset was the strongest predictor of high myopia, with an area under the curve (AUC) in Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) analysis of 0.80. Conceptualized structural equation model supported the hypothesized mediation. Specifically, parental myopia and time spent on electronics predicted myopia onset age, and an earlier onset age was associated with increased probability of developing high myopia in adulthood. Conclusions Age of myopia onset might be the single best predictor for high myopia, and age at onset appeared to mediate the associations of high myopia with parental myopia and time spent on electronics.