One in every three children is now short-sighted as a result of Covid lockdowns, suggest researchers, who found not only that myopia tripled between 1990 and 2023, but that there was a notable spike after the pandemic.
Since 1990, the prevalence of myopia has shot up from 24% to 36%, they said. However, while short-sightedness among children in Japan has reached 85%, in the UK, the figure remains relatively low at about 15%, reports The Independent.
The study estimated that between 1990 and 2019, the global prevalence of myopia increased by 5.34%, but from 2020 to 2023, there was an increase of 6.15%.
“A number of concerns have been raised about the potential negative impact of prolonged lockdowns on eye health, specifically myopia,” wrote the authors – led by a team from the School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou – in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.
This was due to the decrease in outdoor activities and increase in screen time that may have resulted from extended periods of staying indoors, they said.
Myopia is expected to become significantly more prevalent by 2050, predicted to rise from an estimated 36% to 40% of all children and adolescents worldwide.
Children in East Asia are the most likely to suffer from myopia, found the study, with 85% short-sighted in Japan, 73% in South Korea, and more than 40% in Russia and China.
Around 15% of children suffer from myopia in the UK, Ireland and the US.
Myopia is more common in girls and young women, probably because they are less likely to be doing outdoor activities at school and home in their early years, and because their physical development starts earlier, suggested the researchers.
The data were drawn from a study of more than 5m children and teenagers from 50 countries.
Myopia tends to develop during a child’s early years, when eyesight is more susceptible to external factors.
“Younger students are generally more susceptible and vulnerable to environmental factors than adults,” the authors said, adding this was particularly significant for pre-school children, as they are in a critical period of visual development “characterised by high plasticity”.
Interestingly, the age at which a child begins their education is believed to affect their chances of myopia.
Countries where children begin school very young, like Singapore and Hong Kong, are likely to have a higher prevalence of myopia, because children spend more time focusing on books and screens.
Study details
Global prevalence, trend and projection of myopia in children and adolescents from 1990 to 2050: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis
Jinghong Liang, Yingqi Pu, Jiaqi Chen, Meiling Liu et al.
Published in The British Journal of Ophthalmology
Abstract
Background
Myopia is a pervasive global public health concern, particularly among the younger population. However, the escalating prevalence of myopia remains uncertain. Hence, our research aims to ascertain the global and regional prevalence of myopia, along with its occurrence within specific demographic groups.
Methods
An exhaustive literature search was performed on several databases covering the period from their inception to 27 June 2023. The global prevalence of myopia was determined by employing pooled estimates with a 95% CI, and further analysis was conducted to assess variations in prevalence estimates across different subgroups. Additionally, a time series model was utilised to forecast and fit accurately the future prevalence of myopia for the next three decades.
Results
This study encompasses a comprehensive analysis of 276 studies, involving a total of 5 410 945 participants from 50 countries across all six continents. The findings revealed a gradual increase in pooled prevalence of myopia, ranging from 24.32% (95% CI 15.23% to 33.40%) to 35.81% (95% CI 31.70% to 39.91%), observed from 1990 to 2023, and projections indicate that this prevalence is expected to reach 36.59% in 2040 and 39.80% in 2050. Notably, individuals residing in East Asia (35.22%) or in urban areas (28.55%), female gender (33.57%), adolescents (47.00%), and high school students (45.71%) exhibit a higher proportion of myopia prevalence.
Conclusion
The global prevalence of childhood myopia is substantial, affecting approximately one-third of children and adolescents, with notable variations in prevalence across different demographic groups. It is anticipated that the global incidence of myopia will exceed 740 m cases by 2050.
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