Trends of myopia development among primary and junior school students in the post-COVID-19 epidemic period

Zhou, Wen; Li, Qin; Chen, Hongyan; Liao, Ya; Wang, Wei; Pei, Yifei; Li, Suyan; Zhang, Wenxuan; Wang, Qian; Wang, Xiaojuan

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.970751

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Another study that investigated the trends of myopia among primary and junior school students in the post-COVID-19 epidemic period over 3 years also reported the changes in the prevalence of different myopia degrees. 31 From the data, it can be observed that the trend of increasing prevalence of moderate to high myopia started from the 4th grade, which is consistent with the ndings of our study. Nonetheless, our study, which investigated the changes over a solitary semester, yielded the same outcomes.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Trends in myopia development among Chinese children and adolescents in Xuzhou during one academic year

Li,

Liao,

Wang

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and progression of myopia among primary and secondary school students in Xuzhou City, China, during one academic year. Methods: The study employed a prospective research design and utilized a whole-group sampling method to conduct non-cycloplegic spot photo screenings on a sample of 38,041 students from 44 primary and secondary schools in Xuzhou City, China. A one-year follow-up was conducted to gather data on spherical equivalent refraction (SER), and subsequent analysis was carried out to explore the disparities in myopia prevalence among primary and secondary school students within the same academic year, as well as the progression of myopia. Results: During the 2022 academic year, the overall prevalence of myopia in the first and second semesters was 62.6% and 64.2% respectively, indicating an increasing trend. Particularly in primary school, the prevalence of myopia increased with higher grade levels, and significant variations in myopia prevalence were observed mainly in grades 1-3 and 7 (P < 0.05). The incidence rate of myopia in middle school remained stable, while in primary school, there was a positive correlation between myopia incidence and grade level, with the highest rate of 20.1% in grade 6. Among the myopic population, the median value of spherical equivalent refraction slightly decreased between the two semesters. The proportion of high myopia increased among students in grades 5-8. Conclusions: Our study revealed that within the same academic year, the prevalence of myopia and the severity of myopia have significantly increased in Xuzhou City, China, accompanied by an increase in the proportion of high myopia. For different grade levels, we should adopt personalized prevention and control measures, with a particular focus on lower grade levels and students who have just entered a new grade.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Trends in myopia development among Chinese children and adolescents in Xuzhou during one academic year

Li,

Liao,

Wang

et al. 2024

Preprint

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“…Other studies have also demonstrated that education was a risk factor for myopia through diverse methods 14,25–27 . Meanwhile, our latest research confirmed that myopia rates in graduating for the primary or junior grades increased during the post–COVID-19 epidemic period 28 . Therefore, lighter learning tasks for preschool children have less impact on the myopia rate.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 60%

“…14,[25][26][27] Meanwhile, our latest research confirmed that myopia rates in graduating for the primary or junior grades increased during the post-COVID-19 epidemic period. 28 Therefore, lighter learning tasks for preschool children have less impact on the myopia rate. In addition, school-aged children were at increased risk of myopia following the COVID-19 epidemic.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence Trend of Myopia during the Post–COVID-19 Epidemic Period among Preschoolers: A Prospective School-based Study

Li,

Zhou,

Liao

et al. 2023

Optom Vis Sci

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Significance Changes in behavior and lifestyle during the post-COVID-19 epidemic may have some impact on myopia rates in preschoolers, and exploring the changes in myopia rates in preschool children may inform the formulation of myopia prevention and control policies. Purpose To investigate the prevalence of myopia in preschool children during the post-COVID-19 epidemic period in Xuzhou, China. Methods A series of cross-sectional school-based studies was conducted. A total of 117,632 preschool children aged 3 to 6 years were subjected to annual vision screening from 2019 to 2021. Spot photo screening was used to record the spherical equivalent refraction for each child and to analyze the prevalence of myopia by age, sex, and region during the post-COVID-19 epidemic period. Results A total of 113,979 preschool children were included in the analysis, of whom 60784 (53.3%) were males and 53195 (46.7%) were females. For all children, the mean spherical equivalent refraction in 2019, 2020 and 2021 was +0.32 ± 0.50 D, +0.34 ± 0.55 D, and + 0.34 ± 0.54 D, respectively (all P < .05), indicative of a very slight hyperopic shift. In all age groups, the change in mean spherical equivalent refraction and its distribution were relatively stable. From 2019 to 2021, the overall prevalence of myopia in preschool children was 3.1%, 3.3%, and 3.5%, respectively. The rise in myopia rates was minimal. The largest increase in the annual prevalence of myopia was seen among children aged 6, at 0.5%, followed by those aged 5 (0.4%) and aged 3 (0.4%). The prevalence was higher in males than females, and in urban versus rural areas. Conclusions During the post-COVID-19 epidemic period, the refractive status of Xuzhou preschool children remained stable.

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“…Unlike us, Zhou et al found that the SE level of female students was consistently lower than that of male students from 2019 to 2022, and SE decreased with grade for primary and junior school students. 8 This seems to suggest that if we do not take action, the overall visual condition of girls will worsen, despite finding that non-myopic girls had higher SE levels than non-myopic boys in subgroup analysis. As for BMI, Theophanous et al 16 did not find any impact on myopia, 17 but two studies targeting young men found an association between BMI and myopia.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…As per Zhou et al , myopia rates among primary school students in grades 2–4 increased during COVID-19 pandemic, with rates of 19.1%, 33.0% and 49.5% in 2021, respectively. 8 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and related factors of children myopia in Pudong New Area, Shanghai: a cross-sectional study

Cheng,

Zhang,

Zhou

et al. 2023

BMJ Open

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ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the prevalence and related factors of myopia among school-aged children after COVID-19 pandemic.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingPudong New Area, Shanghai.Participants1722 children aged 7–9 randomly selected from 8 primary schools were screened from 1 February 2023 to 30 April 2023.Main outcome measuresChildren’s height, weight and eye parameters were examined. Myopia was defined as a cycloplegic spherical equivalent ≤−0.50 dioptres in either eye. A vision-related behaviour questionnaire was applied to investigate the associations between myopia and its risk factors.ResultsOf the 1722 individuals enrolled, 25.6% (456) had myopia. After adjusting other characteristics, the following factors were associated with an increased rate of myopia: age (9 years vs 7 years, adjusted OR (AOR) 1.84, 95% CI 1.18 to 2.85, p=0.007), parental myopia status (both myopia vs none, AOR 5.66, 95% CI 3.71 to 8.63, p<0.001; one myopia vs none, AOR 2.92, 95% CI 1.93 to 4.42, p<0.001), reading books too close (yes vs no, AOR 1.58, 95% CI 1.20 to 2.08, p=0.001), writing with a tilted head (yes vs no, AOR 1.37, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.77, p=0.019), sleep patterns (early to bed late to rise vs early to bed early to rise, AOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.26, p=0.039). By contrast, a higher monthly household income and the habit of reading while lying down were associated with lower risk of myopia.ConclusionsThe prevalence of myopia is of concern among young school-aged children after COVID-19. Correcting eye use behaviour and improving sleep habits may reduce myopia. Also, gender differences should be considered in prevention strategies for children’s myopia.

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Trends of myopia development among primary and junior school students in the post-COVID-19 epidemic period

Cited by 7 publications

References 34 publications

Trends in myopia development among Chinese children and adolescents in Xuzhou during one academic year

Trends in myopia development among Chinese children and adolescents in Xuzhou during one academic year

Prevalence Trend of Myopia during the Post–COVID-19 Epidemic Period among Preschoolers: A Prospective School-based Study

Prevalence and related factors of children myopia in Pudong New Area, Shanghai: a cross-sectional study

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