The association between nearwork-induced transient myopia and progression of refractive error: A 3-year cohort report from Beijing Myopia Progression Study

Abstract

Purpose To investigate the natural change of nearwork-induced transient myopia (NITM), and its association with the progression of refractive error. Methods Students of the Beijing Myopia Progression Study were examined at baseline and follow-up examinations, which included cycloplegic autorefraction. Initial NITM and its decay were assessed objectively immediately after binocularly-viewing and performing a sustained 5-minute near task (20 cm). Results There were 223 students with both NITM and cycloplegic refractive data enrolled. There were 142 myopic (63.7%), 32 emmetropic (14.4%), and 49 hyperopic (22.0%) students according to their baseline cycloplegic refraction. The annual refractive change was −0.45 (−0.73, −0.21) D. From the baseline to the one-year and two-year follow-up periods, the initial NITM (median) increased significantly in the myopic students (0.16, 0.21, and 0.20D, p = 0.01, respectively). The overall proportion of NITM decay types shifted significantly from none being induced at baseline (non-induced: 17.0%, complete decay 57.4%, incomplete decay 25.6%) to incomplete decay at the 2-year follow-up (non-induced: 6.7%, complete decay 65.0%, incomplete decay 28.3%, p = 0.01). For the hyperopic students, after adjusting for risk factors, for every 1 diopter increase in the initial NITM at baseline, there was approximately a −1.48 diopter more relative myopic refractive progression (p = 0.01). No significant association was found between refractive change and the NITM parameters for either the myopic or emmetropic students after adjusting for the same confounders. However, this relation was significant in the hyperopes (p = 0.01). Conclusion NITM was only found to be significantly associated with the progression of a myopic refractive shift among the hyperopes.

Progression of Vision in Chinese School-Aged Children Before and After COVID-19

“…A 3-year cohort report suggested that there were 142 myopic (63.7%) students from Beijing Myopia Progression Study. Their myopia rate was higher than that of grades 5–6 in our study [ 29 ]. Nevertheless, some countries have low prevalence rates, such as Brazil of3.14% and Saudi Arabia of 0.7% [ 30 , 31 ].…”

Effects of virtual distant viewing technology on preventing nearwork-induced ocular parameter changes

“…Its magnitude is also related to the risk of myopia progression. 12 , 31 Our results showed that the degree of myopia increased by 0.19 ± 0.23 D after 4 hours of reading in the textbook group, which was close to the results of Sivaraman et al (0.26 ± 0.12 D). 32 The main factor contributing to NITM is indeed fatigue in the accommodation system caused by prolonged nearwork.…”

Pseudomyopia as an independent risk factor for myopia onset: a prospective cohort study among school-aged children

“… 11 17 An article investigating the association between near work-induced transient myopia (NITM) and progression of refractive error found that there was more relative myopic refractive progression for hyperopic children with more NITM. 17 The authors inferred that it might be through a mild spasm of the ciliary and increased variability of NITM decay response, which meant the hyperopic children with more NITM had inaccurate accommodative function. A previous study by Kang et al reported that pseudomyopia was not associated with the progression of myopia.…”