Refractive errors in a black adult population: The Barbados Eye Study

PURPOSE. To describe the prevalence of refractive errors in a black adult p opulation. METHODS. The Barbados Eye Study, a population-based study, included 4709 Ba rbados-born citizens, or 84% of a random sample, 40 to 84 pears of age. Myo pia and hyperopia were defined as a spherical equivalent <-0.5 diopters and >+0.5 diopters, respectively, based on automated refraction. Analyses incl uded 4036 black participants without history of cataract surgery. Associati ons with myopia and hyperopia were evaluated in logistic regression analyse s. RESULTS. The prevalence of myopia nas 21.9% and was higher in men (25.0%) t han in women (19.5%). The prevalence of hyperopia was 46.9% and was higher in women (51.8%) than in men (40.5%). The prevalence of myopia decreased fr om 17% in persons 40 to 49 years of age to 11% in those 50 to 59 years of a ge, but increased after 60 years of age. The prevalence of hyperopia increa sed from 29% at 40 to 49 years of age to 65% at 50 to 59 years of age, and tended to decline thereafter. A higher prevalence of myopia was positively associated (P < 0.05) with lifetime occupations requiring nearwork, nuclear opacities, posterior subcapsular opacities, glaucoma, and ocular hypertens ion. Factors associated with hyperopia were the same as for myopia, except for occupation, and in the opposite direction. CONCLUSIONS. nigh prevalences of myopia and hyperopia were found in this la rge black adult population. The prevalence of myopia (hyperopia) increased (decreased) after 60 years of age, which is inconsistent with data from oth er studies. The high prevalence of age-related cataract, glaucoma, and othe r eye conditions in the Barbados Eye Study population may contribute to the findings.