Risk Factors in Childhood Myopia Progression

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors associated with myopia progression during childhood.

Methods: This study included 185 eyes of 185 pediatric patients. Baseline and one-year cycloplegic refraction measurements were recorded. A questionnaire was completed by the parents of all participants. A change in the spherical equivalent of refraction (SER) of < −0.50 diopters (D) between the two visits was considered significant myopic progression.

Results: A total of 185 pediatric patients were evaluated. The mean SER change was −0.38 ± 0.13 D in the non-significant myopic progression group and −0.95 ± 0.24 D in the significant myopic progression group (p < 0.001). A statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of daily study time and duration of mobile phone use, time spent outdoors, parental history of myopia, presence of allergic conjunctivitis, gestational age, and vegetable-based diet (p < 0.001, p = 0.032, p < 0.001, p = 0.007, p = 0.039, p = 0.006, p = 0.030, respectively). According to multivariate regression analysis, increased daily study time (OR =2.21, 95% CI :1.52–3.20, p < 0.001), increased daily mobile phone use (OR = 2.04, 95% CI :1.42–2.94, p < 0.001), higher gestational age (OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.04–1.73, p = 0.022), and parental myopia (OR = 2.46, 95% CI: 1.17–5.18, p = 0.018) were significantly associated with myopic progression.

Conclusions: Myopia progression is closely associated with environmental factors. Appropriate interventions targeting these factors may reduce the rate of progression.

Keywords

• environmental factors
• myopia progression
• pediatric myopia
• refractive errors
• risk factors

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