Singapore Chinese Eye Study: key findings from baseline examination and the rationale, methodology of the 6-year follow-up series

Abstract

Background/aimsIn order to address the eye care needs of the increasing numbers of elderly Chinese globally, there is a need for comprehensive understanding on the longitudinal trends of age-related eye diseases among Chinese. We herein report the key findings from the baseline Singapore Chinese Eye Study (SCES-1), and describe the rationale and methodology of the 6-year follow-up study (SCES-2).Methods3353 Chinese adults who participated in the baseline SCES-1 (2009–2011) were invited for the 6-year follow-up SCES-2 (2015–2017). Examination procedures for SCES-2 included standardised ocular, systemic examinations and questionnaires identical to SCES-1. SCES-2 further included new examinations such as optical coherence tomography angiography, and questionnaires to evaluate health impact and economic burden of eye diseases.ResultsIn SCES-1, the age-adjusted prevalence of best-corrected low vision (VA<6/12, better-seeing eye) and blindness (VA<6/60, better-seeing eye) were 3.4% and 0.2%, respectively. The prevalence rates for glaucoma, age related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy (among diabetics) were 3.2%, 6.8%, 26.2%, respectively. Of the 3033 eligible individuals from SCES-1, 2661 participated in SCES-2 (response rate=87.7%). Comparing with those who did not attend SCES-2, those attended were younger, had higher SES (all p<0.001), but less likely to be a current smoker, to have diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia (all p≤0.025).ConclusionsBuilding on SCES-1, SCES-2 will be one of the few longitudinal population-based eye studies to report incidence, progression, and risk factors of major age-related eye diseases. Findings from this cohort may offer new insights, and provide useful reference information for other Chinese populations elsewhere.

The Differential Impact of Age on Vision-Related Quality of Life across the Visual Impairment Spectrum

“…Of the remaining 3032 eligible individuals, 2661 (87.8% response rate) participated in the first follow-up study (SCES-2). 19 Of the 2475 SCES-2 participants with complete covariate data, 1920 participants (77.6%) did not have VI at baseline and were included in longitudinal analyses relating to VI incidence. These assessments were conducted at the Singapore Eye Research Institute research clinic located at the Singapore National Eye Centre.…”

Ethnic differences in the incidence of pterygium in a multi-ethnic Asian population: the Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases Study

“…Information collected from interviewer administered questionnaires included socioeconomic status (such as education level and income levels), occupation (predominantly indoor or outdoor), medical history, medication use, alcohol consumption, and smoking status 15 . Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as body weight (in kilograms) divided by body height (in metres) squared and categorized as either underweight (< 18.5 kg/m 2 ), normal (≥ 18.5 kg/m 2 but < 25 kg/m 2 ), overweight (≥ 25 kg/m 2 but < 30 kg/m 2 ) or obese (≥ 30 kg/m 2 ) 12 . Blood pressure (BP) was measured using a digital automatic BP monitor (Dinamap model Pro100V2; Criticon GmbH, Norderstedt, Germany) 16 .…”

“…Smoking status was defined as current and previous history of smoking. Educational level was categorized as no formal education (≤ 6 years, primary or lower), formal education (≥ 7 years, including university education) 12 . Individual monthly income was based on Singapore dollars (SGD) and was categorized as lower monthly income(< S$2000), middle or higher monthly income(≥ S$2000) 12 .…”

“…Educational level was categorized as no formal education (≤ 6 years, primary or lower), formal education (≥ 7 years, including university education) 12 . Individual monthly income was based on Singapore dollars (SGD) and was categorized as lower monthly income(< S$2000), middle or higher monthly income(≥ S$2000) 12 . Non-fasting venous blood samples were collected for measurement of plasma cholesterol [total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)], serum triglyceride (TG), HbA1c, and random serum glucose.…”

Using Uniocular Visual Acuity Substantially Underestimates the Impact of Visual Impairment on Quality of Life Compared with Binocular Visual Acuity

“…In this cross-sectional study, we recruited participants from the Singapore Chinese Eye Study 2 (SCES2), 13 part of a trio of population-based cohort studies aimed at assessing ocular epidemiologic factors, access to eye care, and impact of major eye diseases in a multiethnic Asian population. 14,15 A total of 3353 Chinese individuals took part in the baseline Singapore Chinese Eye Study, conducted between 2009 and 2011.…”