School-age visual impairment during remote education due to COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: The pandemic from COVID-19 had a significant impact on education, imposing a distance learning then enhancing the risk of visual impairments, especially among school and university students encouraged to adopt a digital learning approach, increasing the incidence of visual fatigue.METHODS: The study was conducted on primary school students immediately after the end of distance learning through a questionnaire and an eye examination comprehensive orthoptic screening to assess visual acuity, sensorial status, and motor function.RESULTS: Results show that at the end of distance learning the vast majority of students reported experiencing DES with at least 1 symptom among eyestrain when reading, red eyes, burning sensation, tired eyes, itching etc.CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to use the tools and knowledge available to prevent during online teaching the onset of ocular symptoms in students, also because DES may affect educational achievement with severe social consequences.