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Influence of coronavirus disease 2019 on myopic progression in children treated with low-concentration atropine

Hae Ri Yum1, Shin Hae Park2, Sun Young Shin2

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Plos One
|September 14, 2021
PubMed

Insights

COVID-19 lockdowns increased myopia progression in children treated with low-concentration atropine, especially younger age groups. Environmental risk factors like increased screen time and reduced outdoor activity need management, even during myopia treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Pediatric Ophthalmology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic led to increased indoor time for children.
  • Increased near work and reduced outdoor activities are known risk factors for myopia progression.
  • Low-concentration atropine is used to inhibit myopia progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare myopic progression in children treated with low-concentration atropine before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • To assess the impact of COVID-19 related lifestyle changes on myopia progression in treated children.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 103 children treated with low-concentration atropine eye drops.
  • Classification of children by atropine concentration and age group.
  • Comparison of myopic progression rates during pre-COVID-19 (Jan 2019-Mar 2020) and post-COVID-19 (Mar 2020-Mar 2021) periods.
  • Evaluation of parental questionnaires on lifestyle changes.

Main Results:

  • Significant myopic progression was observed post-COVID-19 in the 0.05% and 0.025% atropine groups.
  • Children aged 5-7 and 8-10 years showed significantly faster axial elongation post-COVID-19.
  • No significant difference in progression was found for children aged 11-15 years.
  • Increased screen time and decreased outdoor activity were reported post-COVID-19.

Conclusions:

  • Myopic progression rates increased significantly after COVID-19 spread, coinciding with increased home confinement.
  • Environmental risk factors for myopia must be controlled, even in children undergoing myopia inhibition treatment.
  • Younger children on low-concentration atropine showed increased progression, highlighting the need for environmental intervention.
Abstract

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