SOME GEOGRAPHIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND NUTRITIVE CONCOMITANTS OF MALIGNANT MYOPIA

From an exploratory study of the population of 16 states in the Model Reporting Area for Blindness in The U.S. the incidence rate of reported blindness due to malignant myopia was found to be inversely related to distance to seacoast ( r =−0.67) and with certain correlates of this distance; sunshine ( r =−0.67), fluoride ( r =−0.18–−0.77), calcium ( r =−0.66), and selenium ( r =−0.68). These findings are similar to those for dental caries. except for selenium which is said lo increase caries. Although these findings are analogous, do demonstrate an effect gradient, and are not biologically implausible, replication under less confounded conditions should precede a quantitative statement of causality.