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Myopia Progression in School-Age Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Gülce Gökgöz Özışık1, Hayati Yilmaz2

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Hitit University, 19030 Corum, Turkey.

Journal of Clinical Medicine
|November 27, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Myopia progression significantly increased in school-aged children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Younger children experienced the most substantial changes in their refractive error, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a growing global health concern.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic introduced lifestyle changes, including increased screen time and reduced outdoor activities, potentially impacting myopia progression.
  • Understanding these impacts is crucial for developing effective management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the changes in refractive error among myopic school-aged children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • To analyze myopia progression rates across different age groups during the pandemic years (2018-2021).

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of cycloplegic prescriptions for 825 myopic children (aged 7-18 years).
  • Data collected from 2018 to 2021.
  • Children categorized into three age groups: ≤10 years, 11-14 years, and ≥15 years.

Main Results:

  • Overall annual myopia progression showed a significant increase between 2018 and 2021.
  • The youngest age group (≤10 years) exhibited the most significant increase in myopia progression, particularly in 2020.
  • A negative correlation was found between myopia progression and age from 2020 to 2021.

Conclusions:

  • Myopia progression accelerated in school-aged children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Younger children were disproportionately affected by increased myopia progression.
  • Pandemic-related factors, such as distance learning, necessitate consideration in myopia management plans for children.

Keywords:
COVID-19myopiamyopia progressionpandemicschool-age children

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