The effect of home education on myopia progression in children during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objectives To evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on myopia progression (MP) in school age children. Methods A total of 115 children aged 8–17 years with a diagnosis of myopia who had been followed-up for at least 3 years, were included in this study with a retrospective and single-center design. The subjects’ age, the history of myopia in the family, the time spent in front of a screen, the digital devices used during home education (computer, tablet, smartphone, television), the time spent in open air (hours/day), the refractive error (RE) (spherical equivalent value) detected before the home education period and the changes in the myopia over the years, were recorded. Results The mean age was 12.06(± 2.29) years. Only the right eyes were included. The glasses use duration was 3.57(± 0.74) years. The annual MP amount 0.49(± 0.26), 0.41(± 0.36) and 0.54(± 0.43) diopters (D) for the 2017, 2018, and 2019 years before home education, respectively, (p > 0,05), and 0.71(± 0.46) D in 2020, during home education. The increase in MP amount in 2020 compared to the 2019 and 2018 years was statistically significant (p < 0.003). MP was statistically significantly less in children who participated in open-air activities for 2 hours a day and those who lived in detached houses (p = 0.004, p = 0.006, respectively). Conclusion During home confinement, education programs of school children should be designed while taking into account preventive measures for MP, in particular for allowing children to spend at least two hours of outdoor time per day.