Relationship between Visual Acuity and Lifestyle: A Cross-Sectional Study in Japanese Children

Purpose: To evaluate poor visual acuity (PVA) prevalence and factors related to PVA, including parental myopia status and lifestyle, in primary school children.
Methods: Of total 220 primary school children from grades 4–6 in Hiroshima, 184 (83.6%) were enrolled in the study. They were divided into non-PVA (both eyes’ acuities ≥ 1.0) and PVA (one or both eyes’ acuity < 1.0 and/or wearing spectacles) groups. Data on lifestyle activities were obtained using self-reported questionnaires regarding daily lifestyle, including the duration of watching TV, playing games, using a computer, studying, number of books read per month, and outdoor activities.
Results: The total prevalence of PVA was 66.8%: 50.0% for grade 4, 71.4% for grade 5, and 74.6% for grade 6. In binary logistic regression models, children who had at least one parent with myopia showed greater PVA than those with parents without myopia (OR = 1.89; 95% CI, 1.14 to 3.15). In addition, weekend studying was significantly associated with PVA (OR = 1.48; 95% CI, 1.03 to 2.12), and the number of books read per month was associated with PVA (OR = 1.26, 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.51).
Conclusions: This study confirmed a high PVA prevalence in primary school children, and that the rate of PVA increased with advancing grade. Parental myopia was associated with PVA, as were long studying time and a high number of books read per month.