Correlation Between Tear Film Stability and Myopia in Children

To investigate the correlation between dry eye and myopia in Taiwanese school children.

This retrospective cohort study enrolled children aged 5-14-years-old between January 2021 and April 2022. The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and an activity questionnaire were used to assess the severity of dry eye and the children's lifestyle. Dry eye was assessed using Schirmer's I test, tear break-up time (TBUT), corneal fluorescein staining, and the lid abnormality score. The correlation between dry eye and myopia was determined by linear regression analysis.

In total, 31 non-myopic (mean age, 9.03 years) and 34 myopic (mean age, 8.44 years) children were included in the final analysis. Children with myopia had a significantly higher mean OSDI than children without myopia (4.79 ± 6.90 versus 1.68 ± 3.46, P = 0.024). The prevalence of dry eye disease was higher in myopic children (11.7%) than non-myopic children (3.2%) without significant difference. There were no significant differences in the Schirmer test, TBUT, corneal fluorescein staining score, or lid abnormality score between groups. Multiple regression analyses showed the OSDI was significantly associated with more negative spherical power (regression coefficient [B] = -0.74, 95% confidence interval = -1.48 to -0.01, P = 0.048) and presence of myopia (B = 3.44, 95% CI = 0.72 to 6.16, P = 0.014) after adjusting for age.

Children with myopia have a higher OSDI and higher prevalence of dry eye than children without myopia. After adjusting for age, the OSDI was associated with more negative spherical power and the presence of myopia.