Role of Near Work in Myopia: Findings in a Sample of Australian School Children

PURPOSE. To examine the association of time spent in near work and reading with spherical equivalent refraction (SER) in a population-based sample of 12-year-old Australian schoolchil-dren. METHODS. Data on the time spent in near-work or outdoor activities per week and estimates for the duration of continu-ous reading and reading distances, were collected in question-naires (2353 participants, 75.3 % response) in the Sydney My-opia Study between 2004 and 2005; 2339 children underwent a comprehensive eye examination, including cycloplegia. RESULTS. Longer time spent on reading for pleasure and reports of close reading distance (30 cm) were associated with a more myopic refraction after adjustment for age, sex, ethnicity, and school type (Ptrend 0.02 and P 0.0003, respectively). Time spent in individual near-work activities, however, corre