Correlation Between Tear Film Stability and Myopia in Children

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pediatric Ophthalmology
• Public Health

Background:

• Myopia is a growing public health concern globally, particularly among school-aged children.
• Dry eye disease is increasingly recognized as a prevalent condition affecting various age groups.
• Understanding the relationship between myopia and dry eye is crucial for comprehensive eye care in children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between dry eye and myopia in Taiwanese school children.
• To assess the prevalence of dry eye symptoms and signs in myopic versus non-myopic children.
• To determine if dry eye severity is associated with the degree of myopia.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study included 65 Taiwanese school children aged 5-14 years.
• Dry eye was assessed using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), Schirmer's I test, tear break-up time (TBUT), corneal fluorescein staining, and lid abnormality score.
• Linear regression analysis was employed to determine the correlation between dry eye parameters and myopia.

Main Results:

• Children with myopia exhibited a significantly higher mean OSDI score compared to non-myopic children (P=0.024).
• The prevalence of dry eye was higher in myopic children (11.7%) than non-myopic children (3.2%), though not statistically significant.
• The OSDI score was significantly associated with more negative spherical power (P=0.048) and the presence of myopia (P=0.014) after adjusting for age.

Conclusions:

• Myopic children demonstrate a higher prevalence of dry eye and more severe dry eye symptoms (OSDI) than their non-myopic peers.
• The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) is a significant indicator associated with myopia and refractive error in children.
• These findings highlight the importance of screening for dry eye in myopic children and considering its impact on visual health.