Adult-onset myopia and occupation.

Eleven female textile workers, all carrying out quality control on textiles (close-working distance of 30 cm), were investigated with a view to refractive status. Eleven women in the same factory having other working tasks (office, sale, production) were used as a control group after being matched regarding age and education. Ninety percent of the close workers and 0% of the controls turned out to be myopic, and 80% of the close workers had no need for minus glasses before the age of 20 years. The refraction (in cycloplegia) was -2.56 (cases) vs +1.19 (controls). No deviation was observed concerning keratometry, anterior chamber depth and lens thickness. The axial length, however, was 24.36 mm and 22.72 mm, respectively.