COVID-19 lockdowns may be making more kids near-sighted
Peer-reviewed: This work was reviewed and scrutinised by relevant independent experts.
Observational study: A study in which the subject is observed to see if there is a relationship between two or more things (eg: the consumption of diet drinks and obesity). Observational studies cannot prove that one thing causes another, only that they are linked.
People: This is a study based on research using people.
Observational study: A study in which the subject is observed to see if there is a relationship between two or more things (eg: the consumption of diet drinks and obesity). Observational studies cannot prove that one thing causes another, only that they are linked.
People: This is a study based on research using people.
US and Chinese scientists say being stuck indoors during the pandemic may be affecting some kids' eyesight, making them more near-sighted. They looked at eye tests of more than 120,000 children aged 6 to 13 years from 10 Chinese elementary schools, and say home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a significant shift towards near-sightedness among children aged 6 to 8 years. The prevalence of near-sightedness increased 1.4 to 3 times in 2020 compared with the previous 5 years, they add.
Journal/conference: JAMA Ophthalmology
Link to research (DOI): 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2020.6239
Organisation/s: Emory University, USA
Funder: This work was supported by
grant 17ZXHLSY00020 from the Tianjin Municipal
Science and Technology Commission and grant
YDYYRCXM-B2018-02LC from Tianjin Medical
University Eye Hospital High-Level Innovative
Talent Program for Distinguished Scholar (Dr Qian).
