Factors influencing the visual acuity of primary school pupils.

To investigate the factors influencing the visual acuity of primary school pupils, an epidemiological study of 480 pupils in the 6th grade (11-12 years of age) was conducted in 8 primary schools in Sapporo City, Japan. Questionnaires were used to inquire into their current and past visual acuity and related factors. Dividing the subjects into those whose visual acuity of both eyes was 0.7 or more and those whose visual acuity of at least one eye was less than 0.7, odds ratios of various factors were calculated. Lifestyle and dietary factors showed no significant odds ratios. Parental myopia and age of parents at the birth of subjects showed significant odds ratios. Visual acuity of the pupils whose parents were myopic or older than 30 years when they were born tended to have worse visual acuity as they got older. Till the ages 11 or 12, hereditary factors seem much more contributory to visual acuity than environmental ones. J Epidemiol, 2000 ; 10 : 179-182