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      Distribution, Progression, and Associated Factors of Refractive Status of Children in Lhasa, Tibet, after COVID-19 Quarantine

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          Abstract

          Introduction: Uncorrected refractive error is one of the major causes of visual impairment in children and adolescents worldwide. During the COVID-19 epidemic, home isolation is considered a boost to the progression of children’s myopia. Under geographical conditions of high altitude and strong sunshine, the Tibetan plateau is the main residence of the Tibetan population, where little information is available about the refractive status and developmental trajectory. Therefore, this article aimed to evaluate the distribution, progression, and associated factors of the refractive status in second-grade children in Lhasa after COVID-19 quarantine. Materials and Methods: Students from 7 elementary schools completed comprehensive ocular examinations in the Lhasa Childhood Eye Study. Data regarding cycloplegic refraction and corneal biometry parameters, including axial length (AL), corneal power, anterior chamber depth (ACD), and other demographic factors, were analyzed. Results: A total of 1,819 students were included, with a mean age of 7.9 ± 0.5 years, of which 961 were boys (52.8%), and 95.1% were Tibetan. The prevalence of myopia, emmetropia, mild hyperopia, and hyperopia was 10.94%, 24.02%, 60.80%, and 4.24%, respectively. Besides, the average cycloplegic spherical equivalent refraction (SER) was +1.07 ± 0.92 diopter (D) before the COVID-19 quarantine and +0.59 ± 1.08D after the quarantine ( p < 0.05), with a growth rate of 7%. Moreover, the prevalence of hyperopia in girls was significantly higher than that of boys ( p < 0.001). Nonetheless, the proportion of myopia and emmetropia was similar ( p = 0.75). Meanwhile, children in suburban schools had a significantly lower proportion of myopia ( p < 0.001). The average AL, ACD, lens power (LP), and AL-to-corneal radius (AL/CR) ratio were 22.79 ± 0.78 mm, 3.54 ± 0.21 mm, 25.12 ± 1.48D, and 2.93 ± 0.08, respectively. The results of AL, ACD, and AL/CR for girls were significantly lower than for boys, while the result of LP is the opposite ( p < 0.001). Finally, multivariate regression analysis revealed that SER was negatively correlated with AL, LP, and AL/CR ratio, while positively correlated with CR and ACD ( p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study found that after the COVID-19 confinement, myopia progressed faster in Lhasa children but was still significantly lower than that of plain cities in China. Compared to short-term confinement, this acceleration was more likely related to the growth and general trend of myopia in children. Collectively, these findings help to explore the differences in ocular growth and development among children of different ethnic groups.

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          Most cited references42

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          The epidemics of myopia: Aetiology and prevention.

          There is an epidemic of myopia in East and Southeast Asia, with the prevalence of myopia in young adults around 80-90%, and an accompanying high prevalence of high myopia in young adults (10-20%). This may foreshadow an increase in low vision and blindness due to pathological myopia. These two epidemics are linked, since the increasingly early onset of myopia, combined with high progression rates, naturally generates an epidemic of high myopia, with high prevalences of "acquired" high myopia appearing around the age of 11-13. The major risk factors identified are intensive education, and limited time outdoors. The localization of the epidemic appears to be due to the high educational pressures and limited time outdoors in the region, rather than to genetically elevated sensitivity to these factors. Causality has been demonstrated in the case of time outdoors through randomized clinical trials in which increased time outdoors in schools has prevented the onset of myopia. In the case of educational pressures, evidence of causality comes from the high prevalence of myopia and high myopia in Jewish boys attending Orthodox schools in Israel compared to their sisters attending religious schools, and boys and girls attending secular schools. Combining increased time outdoors in schools, to slow the onset of myopia, with clinical methods for slowing myopic progression, should lead to the control of this epidemic, which would otherwise pose a major health challenge. Reforms to the organization of school systems to reduce intense early competition for accelerated learning pathways may also be important.
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            Effect of Time Spent Outdoors at School on the Development of Myopia Among Children in China: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

            Myopia has reached epidemic levels in parts of East and Southeast Asia. However, there is no effective intervention to prevent the development of myopia.
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              • Record: found
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              Progression of Myopia in School-Aged Children After COVID-19 Home Confinement

              Key Points Question Is home confinement due to coronavirus disease 2019 associated with the burden of myopia? Findings In this cross-sectional study that included 194 904 photoscreening tests conducted in 123 535 children, a substantial myopic shift (−0.3 diopters) was noted after home confinement due to coronavirus disease 2019 for children aged 6 to 8 years. The prevalence of myopia increased 1.4 to 3 times in 2020 compared with the previous 5 years. Meaning Home confinement due to coronavirus disease 2019 appeared to be associated with a substantial myopic shift in children; younger (aged 6-8 years) children’s refractive status may be more sensitive to environmental changes than older children, given that they are in an important period for the development of myopia.
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                Author and article information

                Journal
                ORE
                Ophthalmic Res
                10.1159/issn.0030-3747
                Ophthalmic Research
                S. Karger AG
                0030-3747
                1423-0259
                2022
                June 2022
                16 February 2022
                : 65
                : 3
                : 321-327
                Affiliations
                [_a] aBeijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Beijing, China
                [_b] bDepartment of Quantitative Theory and Methods, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
                Author notes
                *Jing Fu, fu_jing@126.com
                Article
                522548 PMC9059052 Ophthalmic Res 2022;65:321–327
                10.1159/000522548
                PMC9059052
                35172321
                50d8a64d-c3f0-4826-9a73-4ca3761dd75b
                © 2022 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel

                This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC). Usage and distribution for commercial purposes requires written permission. Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug. Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.

                History
                : 09 September 2021
                : 07 February 2022
                Page count
                Figures: 2, Tables: 3, Pages: 7
                Categories
                Research Article

                Vision sciences,Ophthalmology & Optometry,Pathology
                Coronavirus disease-19,Myopia,Children,Tibetan,Refractive error

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