School-based programme to address childhood myopia in Singapore.

Myopia is a complex, multifactorial condition influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Singapore has one of the world's highest myopia rates. The National Myopia Prevention Programme was started in 2001 with the goal of delaying the onset and progression of myopia through public education and vision screening. Public education targeting children, youth and key stakeholders (parents and teachers) focused on increasing awareness of myopia and its complications, and good eye care habits. Regular school-based vision screening for early detection/management and monitoring of myopia prevalence found that from 2004 to 2015, myopia prevalence decreased from 37.7% to 31.6% among primary school students (p < 0.05). The decrease was the greatest between 2004 and 2007, from 37.7% to 32.3%, and was more stable thereafter at 31.6%-33.7%. Since age of onset and duration of progression are the most important predictors of high myopia in later childhood, it is encouraging that myopia prevalence has decreased among primary students.