Anisometropia in an adult population in rural Myanmar: The Meiktlla eye study

PurposeTo determine the prevalence and risk factors for anisometropia in a rural adult population in central Myanmar.MethodsA population-based ophthalmic survey was conducted in rural villages in central Myanmar. Ansiometropia was assessed in subjects with phakic eyes. The severity of anisometropia was defined as the absolute difference of the spherical equivalent between the two eyes.ResultsPrevalence of anisometropia (> or =1.0 D) in all participants was 35.3% (95% CI 32.7-37.9%); severe anisometropia (> or =2.0 D) was present in 18.9 % (95% CI 16.8-21.0%). There was no significant gender difference in anisometropia prevalence or severity. Prevalence and severity of anisometropia were significantly associated with age. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that cataract, myopia, but not age, were associated with anisometropia. The between-eye differences in axial length (r = 0.15, p ConclusionsPrevalence of anisometropia is relatively high in this rural adult population in Myanmar. Myopia and cataract, but not increasing age, are the potential risk factors of anisometropia in this population.H. M. Wu, R. J. Casson, H. S. Newland, J. Muecke, D. Selva and T. Aun