Frederick Tey

Differences in Prevalence of Refractive Errors in Young Asian Males in Singapore between 1996-1997 and 2009-2010

Abstract Purpose: To determine the differences in prevalence rates of refractive errors in young Singaporean males over a 13-year period between 1996–1997 and 2009–2010 Methods: Non-cycloplegic autorefraction data were obtained in a survey of 15,085 young male subjects (mean age 19.5 ± 1.4 years, range 16–25 years) in 1996–1997 using a Nikon NRK-8000 autorefractor. A second survey of 28,908 male subjects (mean age 19.8 ± 1.2 years, range 17–29 years) was conducted in 2009–2010 using a Huvitz MRK-3100 autorefractor. Results: The overall prevalence of myopia (spherical equivalent, SEq, worse than −0.5 diopters, D) was similar in 2009–2010 (81.6%) and 1996–1997 (79.2%; odds ratio 1.38, 95% confidence interval 1.31–1.46; p < 0.001). The prevalence of high myopia (SEq worse than −6.0D) increased from 13.1% in 1996–1997 to 14.7% in 2009–2010 (p < 0.001). The prevalence of refractive astigmatism increased significantly from 41.4% in 1996–1997 to 50.9% in 2009–2010 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our results show that the prevalence of myopia and high myopia remained high and the prevalence of astigmatism increased in young male adults in Singapore over a 13-year period after controlling for age, education and ethnicity.

Choroidal thickness and high myopia: a case-control study of young Chinese men in Singapore.

To determine the distribution of choroidal thickness (CT) and ocular factors associated with CT in high myopic eyes in comparison with emmetropic eyes of young healthy adults.

Peripapillary choroidal thickness in young Asians with high myopia.

PURPOSE To describe the topography and predictors of peripapillary choroidal thickness (PPCT) in highly myopic eyes of young, healthy, Asian subjects. METHODS A total of 870 young male subjects aged 21.63 ± 1.15 years were recruited from the Singapore military. Choroidal imaging was performed using enhanced depth imaging (EDI) spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Peripapillary choroidal thickness was manually measured at eight locations around the optic disc. RESULTS We analyzed 448 subjects with high myopia (defined as spherical equivalent [SE] worse than -6.0 diopters [D]) and 116 with emmetropia (SE > -0.5 and < 0.5 D). The mean SE was -8.52 ± 1.20 D for the high-myopic group, and 0.11 ± 0.24 D for the emmetropic group. The mean peripapillary choroid was significantly thinner (142.62 ± 43.84 μm) in high myopes compared with emmetropes (181.90 ± 46.43 μm, P < 0.001). Likewise, PPCT showed further decrease with increase in degree of myopic refractive error. Distribution of PPCT showed a markedly different pattern in high-myopic eyes (thickest superiorly) and emmetropic eyes (thickest temporally). However, peripapillary choroid in both the groups was thinnest at the inferior location. Among the ocular factors studied, axial length, IOP, presence of posterior staphyloma, and chorioretinal atrophy were the factors significantly associated with PPCT. CONCLUSIONS Highly myopic eyes have significantly thinner peripapillary choroid and showed different distribution of thickness, compared with emmetropes. Axial length, IOP, and presence of posterior staphyloma and chorioretinal atrophy significantly influence PPCT and should be taken into consideration during clinical interpretation of PPCT measurement.

Novel Tools for Driving Fatigue Prediction: (1) Dry Eeg Sensor and (2) Eye Tracker

National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep in America (2005) reported 60% of adult drivers driving a vehicle while feeling drowsy in the past year, and more than 37% have actually fallen asleep at the wheel [1]. This paper presented the findings of two novel fatigue prediction tools. The first study presents a 4-channel dry EEG under simulated driving being able to predict when the driver will develop microsleep in the next 10 minutes using only 3 minutes data of collected, with an accuracy of more than 80%. The second study uses an eye tracker to assess the percentage of time that the eyelids were closed (PERCLOS) as a potential marker for fatigue. Results showed that the average magnitude of oscillation (amount of pupil fluctuation), known as Coefficient Magnitude (CM), is generated from real-time wavelet analysis, has the potential to predict fatigue 8-12 minutes ahead with 84% accuracy ahead of compromised driving behavior.

Development of Fatigue-Associated Measuresment to Determine Fitness for Duty and Monitor Driving Performance

Long distance driving has been a major factor leading to road accidents [1-2]. With the lack of reliable validation on driver fatigue technology systems [3], the aim of this study is to correlate the measurements of two cognitive tests: Psychomotor Vigilance Task Tester-PVT [4] and PenScreen-PS [5] to establish the threshold levels of fatigued driving performance that will form the basis to prevent fatigued drivers from handling vehicles. PVT is recommended to be the first line of defense against putting fatigued drivers on duty. Drowsiness can be detected by SmartEye Anti-Sleep-AS, acting as a monitoring tool. Eye closure analysis on AS’s eyelid opening data showed that AS is a feasible system for real-time monitoring of fatigue while driving. The results also suggested a simpler and more economical way of monitoring fatigue using AS system. PS could be used in conjunction with PVT to detect for any malingering intent.

Professional Ergonomists Education: Lessons Learned from Worldwide Existing Programs

This research is the result of a collaboration established between ergonomists from all over the world that are concerned with education of professional ergonomists. We have started a collective state of the art of ergonomics training programs for professionals, according to IEA standards. The team that organizes this symposium has already started this research and published it at 2017 SELF Congress, and continued working in new results from other corners of the world. We have started the project by sending a mail to all the federated societies as they appear in the IEA website, to some of the IEA executive committee members, and finally contacting the ergonomists we know are or were directors of master degrees in ergonomics all over the world. We asked them to give us their feedback through some questions concerning the education program in which the consulted ergonomist has been involved. The stake is to deeply understand the training case through the answers to the questions sent. We got answers from more than 14 countries concerning more than 20 education programs. The panel of the symposium will present the case of 8 programs from different continents. We hope this research will add our “grain of sand” in the necessary collective work of IEA’s “Professional Standards and Education Standing Committee”.

Is Myopia Affected By Near Work, Outdoor Activities And/Or Level Of Education?

Introduction Near work has always been associated with the influence of myopia (Ip JM, et al., 2008, Saw SM, et al., 2001 & 2002, Goss DA, et al., 2000). It has been shown to affect the progression of myopia. In this study, we aimed to determine if there is a relationship between outdoor activities and myopia, as the prevalence of myopia seems to be lower in children who are more active outdoor. (Rose KA, et al., 2008, Dirani M, et al., 2009, Jones LA, et al., 2007). In addition, we also aimed to establish if the level of education affects myopia prevalence.