Singapore’s population is uniquely vulnerable to eye diseases and disorders at every life stage. One in two children develops myopia by the age of 12. At 18, 83% will turn myopic.
Singapore overview
According to the MOH, the prevalence of myopia in Singapore is among the highest in the world, with 65 percent of our children being myopic by Primary 6, and 83 percent of young adults being myopic. As such, Singapore is often labelled as the “Myopia Capital of the World”.
By 2050, it is projected that 80 to 90 per cent of all Singaporean adults above 18 years old will be myopic and 15 to 25 per cent of these individuals may have high myopia.
How many kids in Singapore wear glasses?
Myopia can affect pre-schoolers, with 7 per cent of five-year-olds in Singapore having to wear glasses. This figure increases to 10 to 20 per cent in Primary 1 and 2 pupils; 30 to 40 per cent in Primary 3 and 4 pupils; and 60 per cent in Primary 6 pupils.
With childhood myopia on the rise, this "myopic generation" will face more eye problems in their adult and twilight years.
Here an illustration of the symptoms we expect to observe in the coming years!
What percentage of Singaporeans are blind?
In SCES, the age-standardized prevalence of presenting bilateral VI and blindness were 17.7% and 0.6%, respectively; the age-standardised prevalence of best-corrected bilateral VI and blindness were 3.4% and 0.2%, respectively.
Source: