AIM:To investigate the myopia risk factors of different nationalities students in primary and secondary schools in Karamay City.

METHODS: This survey was a cross-sectional design, the sample was selected in the first, third and sixth grade primary school and middle school students by stratified random cluster method. The survey team comprised of ophthalmologists, technicians, optometrists and administrative staff. The staff was trained about the design, method and quality control, etc. According to the research needs, questionnaires were designed. In person interview, pilot study, questionnaire,intraocular pressure,corneal curvature,refraction,axial length,corneal thickness, slit lamp microscopy and fundus examination were performed. A database was established using the Epi-data software by double entry method. All statistical analysis was completed by SPSS 17.0 software.

RESULTS:The survey covers 1 922 students in total, which account for 91.4% students of the whole four grades. The total prevalence of myopia was 39.2%. Multivariate analyses revealed that ethnic origin, age, gender, parents of short-sightedness, daily after-school reading and writing time and bad reading and writing habits were closely related to myopia(OR=0.149, 95%CI: 0.103-0.216, P=0.000; OR=1.372, 95%CI: 1.296-1.453, P=0.000; OR=1.517, 95%CI: 1.200-1.918, P=0.000; OR=0.695, 95%CI: 0.602-0.804, P=0.000; OR=1.310, 95%CI:1.086-1.581, P=0.005; OR=0.655, 95%CI:0.486-0.882, P=0.005).

CONCLUSION: Ethnic origin, age, gender, parents of short-sightedness, daily after-school reading and writing time and reading and writing habits were independent risk factors for myopia.