Children’s vision health during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

During the peak months of the COVID-19 pandemic, several countries elected to close schools and adapted to online learning. The aim of the article is to review the impact of lockdown measures instituted during the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s vision health and to make recommendations for mitigating potential visual impairment. Methods: We reviewed studies focused on digital device usage, near work, and outdoor time in relation to myopia onset and progression in children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies focused on the relation between screen time, asthenopia and dry eyes in children during COVID-19. Results: Increased digital screen time, near work and limited outdoor activities were found to be associated with the onset and progression of myopia during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Screen time was positively associated with asthenopia and dry eye in children during COVID-19. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to dramatic changes in many aspects of daily life. Online learning has become the mainstream public learning mode during the pandemic. Several studies indicate accelerated myopic progression during the COVID-19 pandemic in children and the increase has been found to be related to excessive use of digital screen devices and the decrease of outdoor activities duration. Also prolonged screen time, and online-course time can significantly increase asthenopia and dry eye risk. Several studies have recommended to decrease screen time and to increase outdoor activities. Key words: Myopia progression, digital screen time, near work, outdoor activity time, asthenopia and dry eye