Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Ophthalmologists , Humans , Pandemics , Personal Protective Equipment , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 and its' accompanied lockdowns impacted the entire globe in ways the world is only beginning to comprehend. In Israel, children age 9-15 had not been in a frontal classroom and been socially restricted from March 2020 till March 2021. Fourteen of these children that had been under myopia control treatment which had been effective prior to the pandemic were included in this retrospective study to learn if their myopia continued to stay under control, or if the unique environmental modifications affected their progression. The results showed that average increase in spherical equivalent refraction and axial length, measured with optical biometer OA-2000 (Tomey GmbH, Nagoya, Japan), during the year of lockdowns was -0.73 ± 0.46D/0.46 ± 0.31 mm respectively, while the average increase in the year prior was -0.33 ± 0.27D/0.24 ± 0.21 mm. Though several articles have indicated the pandemic environment has influenced myopia progression in children, this communication indicates a possible significant impact of the environment on myopia increase even in individuals under effective atropine treatment. These children's' progression suggests practitioners consider and address multiple aspects simultaneously when attempting myopia control.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Myopia , Adolescent , Atropine , Axial Length, Eye , Child , Communicable Disease Control , Disease Progression , Humans , Myopia/therapy , Ophthalmic Solutions , Pandemics , Refraction, Ocular , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) began spreading in December 2019 and rapidly evolved to a global pandemic. Initially information was nonexistent and eye care professionals (ECPs) were anxious as the close proximity involved in patient care put them at high risk. Recognizing this stress and the probable effect on behavior initiated this survey. The survey presented here was conducted in three stages. The expectation was a change in behavior during the second wave when modes of transmission and methods of protection clarified. Yet nearly a third of ECPs still refrained from examining patients. This continuing trend can have severe health and economic ramifications.