Prevalence of Myopia in Children Before, During, and After COVID-19 Restrictions in Hong Kong.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Childhood myopia increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Limited evidence exists about whether myopia development was reversed or worsened after the lockdown.

Objective

To determine the prevalence of myopia and its associated factors before, during, and after COVID-19 restrictions.

Design, setting, and participants

This population-based, repeated cross-sectional study evaluated children aged 6 to 8 years from the Hong Kong Children Eye Study between 2015 and 2021 in 3 cohorts: before COVID-19 (2015-2019), during COVID-19 restrictions (2020), and after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted (2021).

Exposures

All the children received ocular examinations, including cycloplegic autorefraction and axial length. Data about the children's lifestyle, including t

SUBMITTER: Zhang XJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10034576 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature