Abstract
AimTo evaluate the incidence and progression of myopia and factors associated with progression of myopia in school going children in Delhi.MethodsProspective longitudinal study of 10,000 school children aged 5 to 15 years screened after an interval of 1 year to identify new myopes (Spherical Equivalent≤ -0.5D) and progression of myopia in previously diagnosed myopic children. Association between risk factors and progression was analyzed using adjusted odds ratio.ResultsOf the 9,616 children re-screened (97.3% coverage), annual incidence of myopia was 3.4%with mean dioptric change of -1.09 ± 0.55. There was a significant higher incidence of myopia in younger children compared to older children (P = 0.012) and among girls compared to boys (P = 0.002). Progression was observed in 49.2%children with mean dioptric change of -0.27 ± 0.42 diopters. The demographic and behavioral risk factors were analyzed for children with progression (n = 629) and adjusted odds ratio values were estimated. Hours of reading-writing/week (p<0.001), use of computers/ video games (P<0.001) and watching television (P = 0.048) were significant risk factors for progression of myopia. Outdoor activities / time spent outdoors> 2 hours in a day were protective with an inverse association with progression of myopia (P< 0.001).ConclusionMyopia is an important health issue in India and is associated with long hours of reading and screen time with use of computers and video games. An annual eye vision screening should be conducted, and outdoor activities be promoted to prevent the increase of myopia among school children.
Highlights
Myopia is one of the most common ocular disorders seen in children and young adults and is a cause of concern world-over [1,2,3,4]
There was a significant higher incidence of myopia in younger children compared to older children (P = 0.012) and among girls compared to boys (P = 0.002)
The demographic and behavioral risk factors were analyzed for children with progression (n = 629) and adjusted odds ratio values were estimated
Summary
Myopia is one of the most common ocular disorders seen in children and young adults and is a cause of concern world-over [1,2,3,4]. As studies on the incidence of myopia are essential to determine differences in risk between populations, the aim of the current study was to assess the incidence and progression of myopia in school going children in Delhi and to compare them with published data from other sources. This is a follow up of a previous study which had established the prevalence of myopia in the same cohort [17]
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