Myopia is indeed a global health concern which is linked with a wide range of ocular complications. Thus, it will definitely affect your quality of life. Genetics plays a role in myopia. Myopia is much more prevalent in Asians than Caucasians.
There is a high prevalence of myopia in Singapore. A population-based study of young adult males in Singapore shows 79.3% of them were myopic [1]. 13.1% of them were severely myopic. The study shows that the Chinese have the highest rates of myopia compared to the Indians and Malays.
Ethnicities
Prevalence of Myopia
Chinese
82.2%
Indian
68.7%
Malay
65.0%
Education was strongly associated with the prevalence as well as the severity of myopia. However, the interethnic variation observed was not fully explained by the difference in education levels.
References:
1. Wu HM, Seet B, E Yap, Kee Seng Chia. Does Education Explain Ethnic Differences in Myopia Prevalence? A Population-Based Study of Young Adult… ResearchGate. Published April 2001. Accessed March 31, 2020.
