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Eye (Lond). 2016 Apr;30(4):608-14. doi: 10.1038/eye.2016.7. Epub 2016 Feb 5.
Guggenheim JA1 Williams C2; UK Biobank Eye and Vision Consortium.
Purpose Historical reports suggest febrile illness during childhood is a risk factor for myopia. The establishment of the UK Biobank provided a unique opportunity to investigate this relationship.
Patients and methods We studied a sample of UK Biobank participants of White ethnicity aged 40-69 years old who underwent autorefraction (N=91 592) and were classified as myopic (≤-0.75 Dioptres (D)) highly myopic (≤-6.00 D) or non-myopic (>-0.75 D). Self-reported age at diagnosis of past medical conditions was ascertained during an interview with a nurse at a Biobank assessment centre. Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) for myopia or high myopia associated with a diagnosis before age 17 years of each of nine febrile illnesses after adjusting for potential confounders (age sex highest educational qualification and birth order).
Results Rubella mumps and pertussis were associated with myopia: rubella OR=1.38 95% CI: 1.03-1.85 P=0.030; mumps OR=1.32 95% CI: 1.07-1.64 P=0.010; and pertussis OR=1.39 95% CI 1.03-1.87 P=0.029. Measles rubella and pertussis were associated with high myopia: measles OR=1.48 95% CI: 1.07-2.07 P=0.019; rubella OR=1.94 95% CI: 1.12-3.35 P=0.017; and pertussis OR=2.15 95% CI: 1.24-3.71 P=0.006. The evidence did not support an interaction between education and febrile illness in explaining the above risks.
Conclusion A history of childhood measles rubella or pertussis was associated with high myopia whereas a history of childhood rubella mumps or pertussis was associated with any myopia. The reasons for these associations are unclear.