Abstract
Purpose : This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the refractive error in Hong Kong preschool children and its association with near work (including digital device usage) among these children.
Methods : A total of 336 preschool children aged between 3 and 7 years from 6 local kindergartens were examined. Eye examinations including habitual visual acuity, photorefraction, and ocular biometric measurements were carried out. Parental questionnaires on environmental and behavioural factors including near work habits were collected. Refractive error, expressed as spherical equivalent power (SE), and axial length (AL) were the main outcome measures. Only data on right eye was presented. SE and AL were compared among groups with different time spent on near work, including reading, drawing, doing homework and using digital devices, including mobile phones and handheld electronic devices.
Results : In total, 9.82% of the children had an SE of at least -0.50 D while 24.70% of the children had an SE more than +0.50 D. The overall mean SE was +0.21±0.73 D, ranging from -4.00 D to +2.50 D. The mean AL was 22.41±0.72 mm, ranging from 20.03 mm to 24.69 mm. SE was negatively correlated with age (r=-0.13, p=0.02) but no significant difference was found between gender (p=0.69). AL was positively correlated with age (r=0.40, p
Conclusions : Longer time spent on near work, including doing homework, reading books and drawing, and on digital devices including mobile phone and handheld electronic devices were associated with more myopic refractive power in Hong Kong preschool children.
Methods : A total of 336 preschool children aged between 3 and 7 years from 6 local kindergartens were examined. Eye examinations including habitual visual acuity, photorefraction, and ocular biometric measurements were carried out. Parental questionnaires on environmental and behavioural factors including near work habits were collected. Refractive error, expressed as spherical equivalent power (SE), and axial length (AL) were the main outcome measures. Only data on right eye was presented. SE and AL were compared among groups with different time spent on near work, including reading, drawing, doing homework and using digital devices, including mobile phones and handheld electronic devices.
Results : In total, 9.82% of the children had an SE of at least -0.50 D while 24.70% of the children had an SE more than +0.50 D. The overall mean SE was +0.21±0.73 D, ranging from -4.00 D to +2.50 D. The mean AL was 22.41±0.72 mm, ranging from 20.03 mm to 24.69 mm. SE was negatively correlated with age (r=-0.13, p=0.02) but no significant difference was found between gender (p=0.69). AL was positively correlated with age (r=0.40, p
Conclusions : Longer time spent on near work, including doing homework, reading books and drawing, and on digital devices including mobile phone and handheld electronic devices were associated with more myopic refractive power in Hong Kong preschool children.
| Original language | English |
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| Title of host publication | Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science |
| Pages | 256 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2022 |
| Event | Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting 2022 - Denver, United States Duration: 1 May 2022 → 4 May 2022 |
Conference
| Conference | Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting 2022 |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | ARVO 2022 |
| Country/Territory | United States |
| City | Denver |
| Period | 1/05/22 → 4/05/22 |