Risks of Visual Impairment and Its Progression in Children and Adolescents under Modern Conditions of Education and Upbringing: A Scientific Review

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Intensive introduction of digital technologies and educational tools poses risks of visual impairment in children and adolescents as the most active users of the digital space. Objective: To assess risks of visual impairment in children and adolescents in the context of active dissemination of digital technologies in education and everyday life based on a literature review in order to choose directions for pediatric prevention of eye diseases. Materials and methods: We did a review of Russian and English language scientific literature published in 2007-2021, found on eLIBRARY.ru, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus information portals and platforms. We selected 48 articles containing an evidence-based assessment of risks of eye diseases related to e-learning and long screen time in children and adolescents, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown. Results: We observed combined risks of visual impairment and musculoskeletal disorders due to violation of hygienic requirements for illumination, working posture, distance to the screen, and screen time when using various gadgets. Concom-itant risk factors for eye diseases related to vitamin D deficiency were evaluated. Conclusions: We identified groups at risk of visual impairment based on health indicators and the intensity of using the digital environment. We also specified basic methodological and regulatory documents, the compliance with which could reduce the risks of visual impairment in children, adolescents, and students, and proposed up-to-date directions of research on the topic of the review for maintenance of eye health. © 2022, Federal Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology. All rights reserved.