Rate of Myopia Progression among Ethiopian Myopic Children: An Observational Cohort Study

Abstract Background: Myopia has become a significant global socioeconomic and public health problem. Control of progression of myopia is important in children and the factors that hasten the progression of myopia need to be identified. There is insufficient information about the rate of progression of myopia in Ethiopia. The study aims to determine the rate of myopia progression in children and its determinant factors, from November 2021 to August 2023. Methodology: An observational cohort study was conducted on 66 children aged 6 to 15 years. Data was collected with face-to-face interview using structured questionnaires and measurements were taken at the beginning of the study and one year after the initial examination. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS software version 26. Rate of progression was determined by using student T- test. The factors associated with progression rate were explored using multivariable binary logistic regression.A P value < 0.05 was used to declare significance in the study. Results: A total of 66 myopic children aged 6 to 15 years were followed for 1 year. The mean difference in spherical equivalent refractive error after cycloplegia between the last and the first visit was - 0.41 Diopters (P < 0.001). 18.2% of children showed fast progression; 28.8% showed moderate progression and 53% showed slow progression. Prolonged reading time (AOR = 5.00 (95% CI: 1.10, 25.00), P = 0.04)) and longer television watching time (AOR = 3.85 (95% CI:1.16, 12.50), P = 0.03) were associated with a moderate/fast rate of progression Conclusion: the mean change in spherical equivalent among myopic children after 1 year of follow up was – 0.41 Diopters. Longer reading time per day and longer time spent watching television were associated with higher risk of moderate to fast rate of myopia progression.