Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the influence of educational pressure on myopia. A less-intense school curriculum was introduced nationally in Japan beginning in 2012 based on a pressure-free education policy. In this retrospective observational study, a total of 1025 Japanese medical students of Asahikawa Medical University underwent measurements of the cycloplegic refractive error and axial length (AL), from 2011 to 2020. The spherical equivalent (SE) and AL were correlated significantly with the fiscal year of births (p = 0.004 and p = 0.034, respectively) only during enforcement of the system of high-pressure education. The SE and AL regression rates during the two educational approaches differed significantly (p = 0.004 and p = 0.037, respectively). The prevalence of high myopia was correlated significantly (p < 0.001) only during the system of high-pressure education. The regression of the prevalence rate of high myopia during the two education approaches differed significantly (p = 0.010). The progression rates of myopia and increased prevalence of high myopia were observed only during high-pressure education, suggesting that not only ophthalmologists but also educators and the government should work on together to control the progression of myopia.
Highlights
The prevalence rates of myopia and high myopia have increased dramatically in the past 50 to 60 years, especially in developed countries in east and southeast Asia [1,2,3,4,5]
We investigated the degree of myopia and the prevalence rates of myopia and high myopia before and after the introduction of the Yutori educational system in Japan
During high-pressure education, the degree of myopia and the prevalence of high myopia increased with the passage of the fiscal year (FY) of birth; no myopia progression was observed after implementation of Yutori education
Summary
The prevalence rates of myopia and high myopia have increased dramatically in the past 50 to 60 years, especially in developed countries in east and southeast Asia [1,2,3,4,5]. To contain COVID-19, strict containment measures were imposed internationally, including social-distancing regulations, limited outdoor gatherings, school closures, and switching from in-person education to online, home-based learning. With the implementation of these measures, citizens spent more time using digital devices for entertainment and education. The rapid increase in digital screen time may potentially lead to a rise of myopia rates worldwide, especially in Asia. A meta-analysis suggested that myopia and high myopia would develop in, respectively, 50% and 10% of the world’s population by 2050 [6].
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