Myopia and axial length in school-aged children before, during, and after the Covid-19 lockdown–A population-based study

Bibliographic Data

ID22077453
AuthorsWei Pan (0000-0003-2410-9935, He Eye Hospital), Jiang Lin (0000-0001-6942-2445, Anyang Eye Hospital), Li Zheng (0009-0009-1742-8410), Zheng Li (0000-0002-7537-2509), Weizhong Lan (0000-0002-3829-7415, Central South University), Guishuang Ying, Gui‐Shuang Ying (0000-0002-5752-1355, University of Pennsylvania), Zhikuan Yang (0000-0003-4921-6825, Central South University), Xiaoning Li (0000-0002-1608-6887, Hubei University of Science and Technology, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume10
Pages992784-992784
Publication date2022-12-15
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2022.992784
PMID36589986
OpenAlexW4311608739
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited28

Background Myopic shift had been observed during the COVID-19 lockdown in young school children. It remains unknown whether myopic shift is accompanied with increase in axial length. We aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on myopia and axial length of school children in China by comparing them before, during and after the lockdown. Methods In this population-based cross-sectional study, school-based myopia screenings were conducted in the Fall of 2019, 2020, and 2021 (representing before, during and after COVID-19 lockdown respectively) in Chengdu, China. Myopia screenings were performed on 83,132 students aged 6 to 12 years. Non-cycloplegic refractive error was examined using NIDEK auto-refractor (ARK-510A; NIDEK Corp., Tokyo, Japan) and axial length was measured using AL-Scan (NIDEK Corp., Tokyo, Japan). Spherical equivalent (SER, calculated as sphere+ 0.5 * cylinder), prevalence of myopia (SER ≤ -0.50 D), and axial length were compared across 3 years stratified by age. Results Myopia prevalence rate was 45.0% (95% CI: 44.6–45.5%) in 2019, 48.7% (95% CI: 48.3–49.1%) in 2020, and 47.5% (95% CI: 47.1–47.9%) in 2021 ( p < 0.001). The mean non-cycloplegic SER (SD) was −0.70 (1.39) D, −0.78 (1.44) D, and −0.78 (1.47) D respectively ( p < 0.001). The mean (SD) axial length was 23.41 (1.01) mm, 23.45 (1.03) mm, and 23.46 (1.03) mm across 3 years respectively ( p < 0.001). From the multivariable models, the risk ratio (RR) of myopia was 1.07 (95% CI: 1.06–1.08) times, the SER was 0.05 D (95% CI: 0.04 D to 0.06 D) more myopic and the mean axial length increased by 0.01 mm (95% CI: 0.01 mm to 0.02 mm) in 2020 compared to 2019. In 2021, the risk ratio (RR) of myopia was 1.05 (95% CI: 1.04–1.06), the mean SER was 0.06 D (95% CI: 0.05 D to 0.07 D) more myopic, and the mean axial length increased by 0.03 mm (95% CI: 0.02 mm to 0.04 mm) compared to 2019. Conclusions The COVID-19 lockdown had significant impact on myopia development and axial length, and these impacts remained 1 year after the lockdown. Further longitudinal studies following-up with these students are needed to help understand the long-term effects of COVID-19 lockdown on myopia

Disease · Eye disease · Population · Refractive error · Demography · Medicine · Ophthalmology and Eye Disorders · Ophthalmology and Visual Impairment Studies · Retinopathy of Prematurity Studies · Internal Medicine · Ophthalmology · Optometry

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