https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9661-336X
![Sample our Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing & Allied Health journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5944/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Medicine-Dentistry-Nursing-Allied-Health.jpg"})
Abstract
Objective
To investigate the effect of online learning and other environmental factors on myopia progression during the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).
Methods
A retrospective cohort study from 2018 to 2021. Data from children aged 6–14 were gathered during three visits: pre-pandemic, at the beginning, and during the pandemic. Demographics (hours spent on screens for educational, recreational purposes, outdoors, and type of screen), best-corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA), uncorrected distance visual acuity (UCDVA), and cycloplegic refraction were gathered.
Results
Of 150 patients, 70 [47%] were boys. The mean age was 11 (2.4) years. Participants mainly used mobile phones (62%) and had insufficient outdoor play (88%). Of the 300 eyes, 221 (74%) showed myopia progression. A significant difference in spherical equivalent (SE) was found between pre-pandemic and post-pandemic periods (−0.29 (0.23) D vs −0.40 (0.11) D; p =0.023). Additionally, UCDVA showed a difference between the initial and 1st follow-up visits (0.57 (0.37) vs 0.64 (0.36), p =0.001), and the first and 2nd follow-up visits (0.64 (0.36) vs 0.70 (0.36), p =0.001). Significant hazard ratio for change in SE in patients with higher age (>9 years), (HR [95% confidence interval (CI)], 0.71 [0.51–0.84]), greater recreational screen usage (HR [95% CI], 1.26 [1.15–1.66]), and insufficient outdoor time (HR [95% CI], 1.45 [1.35–1.67]).
Conclusion
Myopia progression was accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Younger age, prolonged screen use, and insufficient outdoor time contributed to increased myopia progression. However, the type of device used had no significant effect.
Synopsis/Precis
Regardless of the type of device used, home confinement, prolonged screen time, and decrease outdoor activity have led to the acceleration of myopia in school-aged children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Acknowledgment
The abstract of this paper was presented as a poster presentation with interim findings at the ARVO annual meeting, May 1–4 2022, at Denver, Colorado. The poster’s abstract was published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (IOVS) an ARVO journal, June 2022. Volume 63, Issue 7.
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.