Impact of Online Classes and Home Confinement on Prevalence of Myopia in Children during COVID-19 Pandemic

doi:10.5281/zenodo.8229348

International Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Research

2023, Volume-4, Issue-4 doi: 10.5281/zenodo.8229348

Original Article

Impact of Online Classes and Home Confinement on Prevalence of Myopia in Children during COVID-19 Pandemic

Dr. Ujala Sharma

Dr. BK Gupta

Dr. Isha Gupta

Dr Kanav Gupta

DOI : 10.5281/zenodo.8229348

Published

Aug. 7, 2023

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of myopia in children before and after the Covid -19 pandemic.

Methods: This is a comprehensive retrospective study conducted in a secondary eye care centre at Panipat. All the children of the age group between 5-18 years were who attended our OPD were included. Period of study was April and May months of Year 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022. Visual acuity (unaided & aided) was recorded in all the children. The data was extracted, compared and analysed for difference in prevalence of myopia

Results: During the post Covid period (April-May 22), 710 children attended the OPD. Among these, 324 (47%) were having the refractive error of more than 0.5 D. In comparison, in the same months of previous year 2021, only 349 children visited the OPD, out of these, 124 (38%) were having ref error. Secondly, in the months of April May 2022, 128 children of the age group of 5-11 years got the refractive errors, out of 321 (39.9%) of the total children of the same age group who came to OPD during that period. In comparison, in the year 2021, only 25 (17%) got the refractive errors out of 147. This figure was much lower in the years 2018(6.3%) & 2019(6.8%).

Conclusion: After the COVID-19 pandemic, myopia showed an alarming increase in pediatric age group. The change of myopia in younger children was comparatively greater than that in adolescents. Therefore, measures should be taken to prevent and control the progression of myopia after the COVID-19 pandemic

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