[Influence of near-work and outdoor activities on myopia progression in school children].
OBJECTIVE
To study the influence of near-work and outdoor activities on myopia progression in school children.


METHODS
Eighty 7-11-year-old school children with myopia were randomly assigned into an intervention group (n=41) and a control group (n=39). The children in the intervention group did near- and middle-vision activities less than 30 hrs per week and more outdoor activities than 14-15 hrs per week. Myopia progression was observed regularly over 2 years after which ophthalmologists administered questionnaires regarding near-vision work (reading, writing and using computer), middle-vision work (watching TV and extracurricular learning activities), outdoor activities, using nature light, wearing glasses, etc.


RESULTS
The annual mean myopia progression (0.38 ± 0.15 D) in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group (0.52 ± 0.19 D; P<0.01). The children in the two groups spent similar amounts of time in near-vision activities, but the children in the intervention group spent less time in middle-vision activities (P<0.01) and more outdoor activities (13.7 ± 2.4 vs 6.2 ± 1.6 hrs/wk; P<0.01). When considering all children in the study, there were 4 factors that significantly correlated with less myopia progression: more outdoor activities, more time spent wearing glasses, more time spent in natural light and less time using a computer. When analyzing the intervention group separately, more outdoor activity was inversely correlated with myopia progression (t=-2.510, P<0.05). Separate analysis of the control group indicated that more time wearing glasses was correlated with less myopia progression (t=-3.115, P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Myopia progression in school children may be slowed by more outdoor activities, more time spent in natural light and more time wearing corrective glasses.
Department of Ophthalmology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China. yijunhui@hotmail.com
Jun-Hui
JH
Yi
Rong-Rong
RR
Li
D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000209:etiology*; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires