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Published on: March 29, 2022
Myopic Progression of Children Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Peng Ye1, Chao Huang1, Yuxuan Liu1
1Clinical Medical College & Affiliated Hospital & College of Preclinical Medicine, Chengdu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated myopia progression in children. Increased changes in spherical equivalent refraction and axial length were observed during pandemic-related home confinement, particularly for those already myopic or outside East Asia.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a growing global health concern.
- The COVID-19 pandemic introduced lifestyle changes, including increased screen time and reduced outdoor activity, potentially impacting vision.
- Understanding the pandemic's effect on myopia progression is crucial for pediatric eye care.
Conclusions:
- Home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated myopia progression in children.
- The effect was more pronounced in children with existing myopia and those from regions outside East Asia.
- Findings highlight the need for interventions to mitigate myopia progression in response to environmental changes.
Purpose:
This study aimed to investigate the progression of myopia in children before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods:
Online databases were searched for original studies reporting changes in the spherical equivalent refraction (SER) and axial length (AL) of children, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Results:
Twelve eligible studies were identified after database search and screening. In all eligible studies, the annual changes in SER and AL were larger during the COVID-19 pandemic than during the pre-pandemic period. The pooled differences in SER and AL before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were -1.25 standard deviation (SD) and 0.27 SD, respectively. Pooled SER difference before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were -1.47 SD for cohorts with 100% children with myopia, -1.03 SD for cohorts with <100% children with myopia, -1.17 SD for cohorts from East Asia, -1.32 SD for cohorts from the other regions, -1.37 SD for younger cohorts, -1.30 SD for older cohorts, -1.79 SD for cohorts with shorter online education time, and -1.39 SD for cohorts with longer online education time.
Conclusion:
Home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the progression of myopia in children, especially in those with myopia or from regions other than East Asia. This systematic review protocol was registered with PROSPERO [CRD420251061387].
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