| Abstract |
It has been observed that myopia percentages have enormously increased in children
populations during last years, especially in East Asia countries. This increasing
tendency, seem to be the result of a combination of several genetic and environmental
factors.
The main purposes of the certain research are: a) the evaluation of the prevalence of
myopic refractive error in children who are regularly physically exercised b) the study
of the correlation of ocular biometric parameters, such as the axial length and the
mean corneal radius of curvature, with the myopic refraction per age c) the
assessment of the role of genetic and environmental factors in the development and
progress of myopia d) the correlation study between the visual acuity and sport’s
performance and e) the study of the quality of vision at physically exercised children.
For this reason a sample consisted of 237 male soccer athletes of the OFI Sport
Academy was examined, with age ranging from 7 to 16 years old (Mean age = 10.95
years, SD = 2.00 years). The examination procedure included automated refraction
(Huvitz HRK 7000), visual acuity measurement (modified ETDRS charts) and optical
biometry of the eye (Zeiss IOL Master). Furthermore, several athletes’ personal data
was recorded (e.g. training level, dominant eye / leg etc.) and three types of
questionnaires were distributed to be fulfilled either by the children, their parents or
their coaches.
The percentage of myopia prevalence (SER 2 -0.75 and VA <: 0.8) in our sample
hardly reached 8.4%, significantly lower than the general student population (~38%)
(Plainis et al., 2008). A significant negative relationship was found between a) axial
length and SER (r = -0.49), b) axial length to mean corneal radius of curvature ratio
and SER (r = -0.70). It was also observed an increasing tense of the axial length in
connection with the age (0.11 mm per year), while mean corneal radius of curvature
and visual acuity remained constant. Axial length to mean corneal radius of curvature
ratio differed significantly per age group (p < 0.001), on the other hand SER did not
(p = 0.13). In addition, the percentages of hyperopic athletes decreased significantly
according to the age (p = 0.003), whereas there was not a significant change in
myopic percentages (p = 0.19) even if an increasing tendency was presented. As far as
the genetic and the environmental factors which are associated with the prevalence of
myopia at athletes are concerned, it was found that parental myopia (p < 0.001) and
higher level of parents’ education (p = 0.03) was positively correlated with the
myopic refractive error of their children. An inverse relationship between the
additional athletic activities and the myopic error (p = 0.04) was also found, while
there was no correlation between near work activities (studying, computer usage etc.)
and myopia. Furthermore, we concluded that high ability athletes had better VA than
low ability athletes (Mean difference: 0.07 logMAR). Finally it was observed that
approximately one out of three athletes: a) has not visited an eye-specialist for more
than two years and b) although his visual acuity is reduced less than 8/10, does not
use a refractive correction. The above findings bring out the importance of regular eye
check during school age, due to the rapid change of refractive error.
In conclusion we would state that the multi factorial character of myopia is confirmed
for one more time in this research. The results of modern myopia studies’ are quite
ambiguous, i.e. that there are certain points to be more methodically and extensively
investigated. The study shows that sports and generally outdoor activities, may have a
protective role on myopia prevalence during the school age, thus these issues should
be deeper reevaluated and reinvestigated in future research.
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Οφθαλμο-βιομετρικός έλεγχος σε παιδιά-μέλη αθλητικών ομάδων ποδοσφαίρου
