Northern Ireland Childhood Errors of Refraction (NICER) study

Background

The Northern Ireland Childhood Errors of Refraction (NICER) study, part funded by the College of Optometrists, is the largest ever in the UK to examine changes in children’s vision and cycloplegic refractive error over time. Since 2006, the College has funded researchers at Ulster University to undertake a longitudinal study of refractive error, ocular biometry and visual status. The latest findings from this ongoing study provide vital information on how children’s eyes grow and change in the 21st century and inform how the profession’s practice and advice might change in view of these findings.

We are now supporting Phase 4 of the NICER project, which will extend data collection to nine years, making it the longest prospective population-based study of refractive error (using cyclopegia) in childhood and early adulthood. Check back here for updates.

Key findings

The key findings from Phase 3 included:

Nearly one in five teenagers in the UK are myopic.
Myopia is more than twice as prevalent among UK children now than in the 1960’s (16.4% vs 7.2%).
Prevalence of myopia in white children in the UK is similar to that of white children in other countries.
Prevalence of myopia in white children in the UK is much lower than in Asian countries where the majority of school leavers are myopic. For example, in South Korea, 96.5% of 19 year old males are myopic.
Myopia is most likely to occur between six and 13 years of age.
Children with one myopic parent are almost three times more likely to be myopic by age 13 than a child without a myopic parent. This increases to over seven times more likely when both parents are myopes.
Children are becoming myopic at a younger age in the UK than in Australia. However, at ages 18-19 years, the prevalence of myopia in Australia and the UK is similar.

Member briefing

We produced a member briefing on the project, and supported the open access publication of the following paper.

Further reading

McCullough SJ, O’Donoghue L, Saunders KJ (2016). Six Year Refractive Change among White Children and Young Adults: Evidence for Significant Increase in Myopia among White UK Children. PLoS ONE 11(1): e0146332. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0146332

More on

Myopia ( 14 ) Children ( 26 )

Other resources of interest

29 August 2018 Acuity

Focus on myopia

12 July 2018 Acuity

Make it clear with evidence-based practice

12 July 2018 Acuity

Autorefractors: the future of optometry?

11 July 2018 Acuity

How to make your practice family-friendly

2 July 2018 Optometry in Practice

Evaluation of a training programme aimed at increasing teachers' awareness of common childhood problems

21 June 2018 CET

Video lectures with CET points

This series of video lectures from College conferences and regional events helps members stay up to date on important clinical topics (1 non-interactive CET point per video MCQ).

1 May 2018

Myopia and Sports case study

You can discuss this case study in practice as part of your CET. Key questions and sample answers are included.

23 November 2017 Guidance

Guidance for professional practice - member briefing

Download this member briefing for information on the headline changes to the guidance.

6 June 2017 Optometry in Practice

Paediatric low vision

17 May 2017 CET

DOCET - Safeguarding children for optometrists level 2

Accredited Level 2 course, introducing optometrists to the key issues surrounding child abuse. How to recognise and deal with issues that might arise in optometric practice when working with children. There is a also a course on Safeguarding adults.

17 May 2017 CPD

DOCET - Examining children

This film covers key points about examining children of all ages and how to adapt your routine.

29 March 2017 CPD

Paediatric Eye Care qualifications

24 January 2017

UK contact lens practice for children and young people survey

23 January 2017 CPD

Northern Ireland Childhood Errors or Refraction (NICER) study

23 January 2017

Patient leaflets

23 January 2017

For children

10 February 2016 CPD

Myopic baby case study

You can discuss this case study in practice as part of your CET. Key questions and sample answers are included.

10 February 2016 CPD

When to prescribe (children) case study

You can discuss this case study in practice as part of your CET. Key questions and sample answers are included.

10 February 2016 CPD

Child with lid infestation (IP) case study

You can discuss this case study in practice as part of your CET. Key questions and sample answers are included.

10 February 2016 CPD

Child with contact lenses case study

You can discuss this case study in practice as part of your CET. Key questions and sample answers are included.

26 January 2016 Blog

Understanding myopic change: what makes NICER worth talking about?

20 January 2016 Report

NICER study findings on myopia - member briefing

New evidence on the growing problem of childhood myopia in the UK.

18 August 2015 Optometry in Practice

Myopia in practice: evidence for intervention

There is growing interest in myopia and myopia control within the optometry community. This article looks at the evidence for intervention.

2 March 2015

Framework for provision of eye care in special schools in England

This paper provides a framework whereby all children and young people in special schools in England gain equitable access to regular eye care.

6 November 2014 Guidance

Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults

7 April 2014 Ethical scenario

Ethical scenario 20: Re-examination of patients seen by hospital eye service

Should you re-examine a HES patient who has broken her specs?

19 February 2014

Careers in optometry - Look to the future

careers inspiration and information for secondary school students.

9 October 2013 CPD
Report

Sight Loss and Vision Priority Setting Partnership: Setting Priorities for Eye Research Executive Summary

This project brought together patients, practitioners and other interested organisations to identify current priorities for optometric research.

10 May 2013

Myopia and international educational performance

The relationship between myopia, educational performance and engagement in after-school tutorial classes.

1 October 2010 Optometry in Practice

Complete issue, OiP, Volume 11, Issue 4, 2010, various authors

Articles cover: Modifiable risk factors for AMD; Medical management of common corneal conditions; testing visual acuity of young children; lasers; the purpose of an eye test among people aged 60 and over.

1 October 2008 Optometry in Practice

Complete issue, OiP, Volume 9, Issue 4, 2008, various authors

Articles cover: The ageing eye; myopia; current concepts in AMD; and the ocular consequences of HIV-AIDS.

1 February 2008 Optometry in Practice

Complete issue, OiP, Volume 9, Issue 1, 2008, various authors

Articles in this edition of OiP cover angle closure glaucoma in optometric practice, colour vision testing, children and contact lenses, and hereditary ocular diseases in childhood.

1 August 2007 Optometry in Practice

Complete issue, OiP, Volume 8, Issue 3, 2007, various authors

Articles covering: Genetics in ophthalmology and its relevance to optometry, dealing with challenging situations in practice, gonioscopy and hereditary ocular diseases in childhood.

Loading...

Loading...