Abstract:
This study explores whether children\'s refractive errors and visual behaviors reverted to pre-COVID-19 levels a year after normal schooling resumed in Hong Kong as well as the impact of corneal and internal astigmatism on refractive astigmatism development. Vision survey data and questionnaire results collected in 2022 (n = 119) and 2020 (n = 173) were compared. Cross-sectional data showed similar proportions of astigmatism (cylindrical power ≥ 0.75 D) in the 2020 (49.1%) and 2022 cohorts (55.5%). Despite a 0.28 D increase in corneal astigmatism, a compensatory 0.24 D increase in internal astigmatism of opposite direction kept refractive astigmatism relatively stable. The questionnaire data showed that children spent an additional 0.5 h/day outdoors on weekends post-resumption of normal schooling but engaged in more near-work activities, especially non-screen near-work, by approximately 1 h/day on both weekdays and weekends. These findings were supported by longitudinal data from 72 children who participated in both surveys. This study highlights the significant role of corneal and internal astigmatism in refractive astigmatism changes. Despite the return to in-person classes, children\'s total near-work time increased and astigmatism remained high. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive strategies to reduce the high environmental risks for refractive error development in children.
摘要:
这项研究探讨了在香港恢复正常学校教育后一年,儿童的屈光不正和视觉行为是否恢复到COVID-19之前的水平,以及角膜和内部散光对屈光散光发展的影响。比较了2022年(n=119)和2020年(n=173)收集的视力调查数据和问卷结果。横截面数据显示,在2020年(49.1%)和2022年(55.5%)队列中,散光的比例相似(圆柱屈光力≥0.75D)。尽管角膜散光增加了0.28D,相反方向的内部散光的补偿性0.24D增加使屈光散光相对稳定。问卷数据显示,儿童在恢复正常学校学习后的周末在户外额外花费0.5小时/天,但从事更多的近距离工作活动,尤其是非屏幕附近的工作,在工作日和周末大约每天1小时。这些发现得到了参与两项调查的72名儿童的纵向数据的支持。这项研究强调了角膜和内部散光在屈光散光变化中的重要作用。尽管回到了面对面的课堂,儿童总的近工作时间增加,散光仍然很高。这些发现强调了需要采取综合策略来降低儿童屈光不正发展的高环境风险。