Utility values and myopia in teenage school students

Abstract

Aim: To ascertain the utility values of myopic teenage students in Singapore. Methods: Children (n=699) aged 15-18 years with myapia (spherical equivalent (SE) at least -0.5 diaptres (D)) in two high schools in Singapare were recruited. Information an time trade-off (years af life willing to sacrifice for treatment af myapia) and standard gamble far blindness [risk af blindness fram therapy willing to sacrifice far treatment af myapia) utility values, demagraphic, and socioeconamic status data were obtained. Results: The time trade-off and standard gamble for blindness utility values were 0.93 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.93 to 0.94) and 0.85 (95% Cl 0.84 to 0.86), respectively. Children with presenting better eye lagMAR visual acuity >0.3 had lower time trade-off utility values (mean 0.92 versus mean 0.94), after adjusting for race and sex. There were dase-response relatians between standard gamble for blindness values and total family income, as well as bath utility values and educational stream (all p values far trend <0.01), after controlling for the same factors. Conclusion: The utility values in myapic students were higher far teenagers with better presenting visual acuity, children who ware spectacles or cantact lenses, higher total family incame, mare "academic" schooling stream, and who were non-Muslims.