PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Mijie Li AU - Carla Lanca AU - Chuen-Seng Tan AU - Li-Lian Foo AU - Chen-Hsin Sun AU - Fabian Yap AU - Raymond P Najjar AU - Charumathi Sabanayagam AU - Seang-Mei Saw TI - Association of time outdoors and patterns of light exposure with myopia in children AID - 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2021-318918 DP - 2021 Apr 15 TA - British Journal of Ophthalmology PG - bjophthalmol-2021-318918 4099 - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/early/2021/04/14/bjophthalmol-2021-318918.short 4100 - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/early/2021/04/14/bjophthalmol-2021-318918.full AB - Background/aims To evaluate the association of reported time outdoors and light exposure patterns with myopia among children aged 9 years from the Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes birth cohort.Methods We assessed reported time outdoors (min/day), light exposure patterns and outdoor activities of children aged 9 years (n=483) with a questionnaire, the FitSight watch and a 7-day activity diary. Light levels, the duration, timing and frequency of light exposure were assessed. Cycloplegic spherical equivalent (SE), myopia (SE≤−0.5 D) and axial length (AL) of paired eyes were analysed using generalised estimating equations.Results In this study, 483 (966 eyes) multiethnic children (50.0% boys, 59.8% Chinese, 42.2% myopic) were included. Reported time outdoors (mean±SD) was 100±93 min/day, and average light levels were 458±228 lux. Of the total duration children spent at light levels of ≥1000 lux (37±19 min/day), 76% were spent below 5000 lux. Peak light exposure occurred at mid-day. Children had 1.7±1.0 light exposure episodes/day. Common outdoor activities were walks, neighbourhood play and swimming. Greater reported time outdoors was associated with lower odds of myopia (OR=0.82, 95% CI 0.70 to 0.95/hour increase daily; p=0.009). Light levels, timing and frequency of light exposures were not associated with myopia, SE or AL (p>0.05).Conclusion Reported time outdoors, light levels and number of light exposure episodes were low among Singaporean children aged 9 years. Reported time outdoors was protective against myopia but not light levels or specific light measures. A multipronged approach to increase time outdoors is recommended in the combat against the myopia epidemic.The data that support the findings of this study are generated from the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) study, but restrictions apply to the public availability of these data, due to ethical restriction (patient confidentiality) imposed by the Singhealth Centralised Institutional Review Board. Datasets are, however, available from the authors upon reasonable request and with the permission of the GUSTO study.