• About
  • Masthead
  • License Content
  • Advertise
  • Submit Press Release
  • RSS/Email List
  • 2MM Podcast
  • Write for us
  • Contact Us
2 Minute Medicine
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

SUBSCRIBE
  • Specialties
    • All Specialties, All Recent Reports
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Pharma
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • AI Roundup
  • Pharma
  • The Scan+
  • Classics™+
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Podcasts
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
2 Minute Medicine
  • Specialties
    • All Specialties, All Recent Reports
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Pharma
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • AI Roundup
  • Pharma
  • The Scan+
  • Classics™+
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Podcasts
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
SUBSCRIBE
2 Minute Medicine
Subscribe
Home All Specialties Chronic Disease

Schoolchildren aged 6-8 years experiencing increased prevalence of myopia following house confinement from COVID-19

byKathleen LauandAlex Chan
January 25, 2021
in Chronic Disease, Ophthalmology, Public Health
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

1. Following a period of house confinement and online school due to COVID-19, the prevalence of myopia increased between 1.3 and 3.8 times in 6-8 year old children, and the mean spherical equivalent refraction (SER) decreased by -0.3 diopters compared to previous years.

2. Children aged 9-13 years did not experience significant decreases in SER nor higher rates of myopia.

Evidence Rating Level: 2 (Good)

Study rundown: Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a common ophthalmologic condition, projected to affect half of the world’s population by the year 2050. Risk factors for myopia include limited time spent outdoors and “near work” activities, such as reading and computer usage. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, China closed all schools at the end of January 2020, leaving 220 million children inside their homes and learning online. The current study’s aim was to examine the association between confinement related to the COVID-19 outbreak in China, and myopia development in children. Once schools re-opened in June 2020, over 120,000 schoolchildren from 10 elementary schools were tested for myopia, the results of which were compared to data from the same schools, collected annually from 2015-2019. The plethora of data available for years prior to COVID-19 was a central strength of this study. The findings showed a significant myopic shift of -0.3 D (diopters) for students between ages 6 and 8. Furthermore, the prevalence of myopia in the students increased between 1.3 times (for children aged 8) and 3.8 times (for children aged 6) compared to previous years’ data. For children between the ages of 9 and 13, the myopic shift and prevalence increase were less pronounced, but still present. The study did not analyze children younger than 6 years, which limit the generalizability of findings. Nonetheless, the results of the study identified the 6-8 years age group as a potential target for further investigations on myopia during COVID-19, which can have implications for shaping public health guidelines on eye health for children confined in their homes during the ongoing pandemic.

Click to read this article in JAMA Ophthalmology

Relevant Reading: Effect of Time Spent Outdoors at School on the Development of Myopia Among Children in China: A Randomized Clinical Trial

RELATED REPORTS

Ocular trauma may be a predictor of mortality in geriatric patients

Personalized visual perceptual learning digital therapy may improve vision post-stroke

No difference between pharmacologic treatments in age-related macular degeneration risk reduction

In-Depth [cross-sectional study]: This study was based in Shandong, Feicheng, China, where children from 10 elementary schools had undergone annual photoscreenings for myopia, defined as a spherical equivalent refraction (SER) of -0.5 D. Between the years 2015-2019, screenings were conducted in September, and in 2020, the screening was conducted in June, after school closures were lifted in China. There were 194,904 test results in total over the years, with 123,535 children (52.1% male, age range 6-13). Although the mean SER results were stable between 2015 and 2019, there were significant decreases in 2020: -0.32 D for children aged 6 years, -0.28 D for 7 years, and -0.29 D for 8 years. For those aged 9 to 13, small decreases were noted, ranging from -0.05 D in children aged 13 years to -0.12 D for 9 years. Additionally, the prevalence of myopia was increased in 2020, at 21.5% for children aged 6 years, 26.2% for 7 years, and 37.2% for 8 years (compared to the years 2015-2019, where the highest annual prevalence was 5.7%, 16.2%, and 27.7% respectively). For children aged 9 years, the prevalence of myopia was 45.3% in 2020, which was not significantly different from 43.5% in 2018. And for children aged 10 to 13 years, the prevalence of myopia was not the highest in 2020.

Image: PD

©2020 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. All rights reserved. No works may be reproduced without expressed written consent from 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. Inquire about licensing here. No article should be construed as medical advice and is not intended as such by the authors or by 2 Minute Medicine, Inc.

Tags: myopiaOphthalmology
Previous Post

2 Minute Medicine Rewind January 25, 2021

Next Post

Multimodal pain regimen of generic medications following trauma found to achieve adequate pain control

RelatedReports

Quick Take: Association of Visual Impairment With Economic Development Among Chinese Schoolchildren
Chronic Disease

Ocular trauma may be a predictor of mortality in geriatric patients

June 2, 2025
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and risk of incident acute myocardial infarction and stroke: findings from matched cohort study of 18 million European adults
Chronic Disease

Personalized visual perceptual learning digital therapy may improve vision post-stroke

May 30, 2025
Quick Take: Association of Visual Impairment With Economic Development Among Chinese Schoolchildren
Chronic Disease

No difference between pharmacologic treatments in age-related macular degeneration risk reduction

May 8, 2025
Adalimumab aids in control of noninfectious uveitis
Pharma

Aurion Biotech: Cell Therapy AURN001 Improves Vision in Patients with Corneal Endothelial Disease

January 31, 2025
Next Post
Patients with low back pain or pain at multiple sites at highest risk for chronic opioid use

Multimodal pain regimen of generic medications following trauma found to achieve adequate pain control

Engineered stem cells mitigate liver damage caused by radiation [PreClinical]

Sitagliptin may reduce acute graft-versus-host disease following allogeneic stem-cell transplantation

#VisualAbstract: Occult Blood in Feces Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Ischemic Stroke and Myocardial Infarction

#VisualAbstract: Hydroxychloroquine not effective for preventing COVID-19 after contact exposure

2 Minute Medicine® is an award winning, physician-run, expert medical media company. Our content is curated, written and edited by practicing health professionals who have clinical and scientific expertise in their field of reporting. Our editorial management team is comprised of highly-trained MD physicians. Join numerous brands, companies, and hospitals who trust our licensed content.

Recent Reports

  • 2 Minute Medicine Rewind June 30, 2025
  • Weighted vests and resistance training confer similar outcomes for bone density in the elderly
  • Breast cancer survivors may have a lower risk of Alzheimer’s dementia
License Content
Terms of Use | Disclaimer
Cookie Policy
Privacy Statement (EU)
Disclaimer

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

  • Specialties
    • All Specialties, All Recent Reports
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Pharma
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • AI Roundup
  • Pharma
  • The Scan
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Podcasts
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
No Result
View All Result

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.