The purpose of this study is to develop a school-based intervention aimed at prevent the onset and development of myopia among school aged children by increasing time spent outdoors in northeast China.
The purpose of this study is to develop a school-based intervention aimed at prevent the onset and development of myopia among school aged children by increasing time spent outdoors among elementary and secondary school students in northeast China. It is expected that the results will provide evidences for policy-makers and school healthcare providers for their school children myopia prevention.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
3,521
The intervention group undertook interventions by increasing time spent outdoors. The interventions composed of performing two additional recess program lasting 30 minutes outside the classroom that encouraged children to go outside for outdoor activities during recess in both the morning and afternoon during school days within a intervention period of 1 school year.
Changes in uncorrected visual acuity
Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was measured for the right eye, then the left eye, with a E Standard Logarithm Vision Acuity Chart (GB11533-2011) in 5-grade notation (5- LogMAR), with illumination of the chart around 500lx. If one of the eyes UCVA was less than 5.0, then tests with combined lenses were conducted among the poor eye-sighted for confirming the types of ametropia (normal, myopia, hyperopia or other eye diseases)．All the measurements were recorded.
Time frame: Baseline, Month 6, Month 12
Questionnaire survey
The parents and children underwent an interview together. The questionnaire included questions on children's gender, ethnicity, region of habitation; questions on parental education level, the monthly family income and whether the parents were myopic or not;. The interview also included questions on the amount of time spent for learning (reading or writing), screen time (television, computer, etc) and time spent outdoors after school in recent 7 days.
Time frame: Baseline
Changes in ocular biometric parameters
A random subsample (12.8%) underwent cycloplegia. After ensuring that there was no risk for a medical mydriasis, cycloplegia was performed at baseline and intervention after 1 year in the Shenyang Aier Ophthalmology Hospital, respectively. Ocular biometric parameters (axial length, corneal curvature, anterior chamber depth and IOP) were measured in both eyes of all participants. Axial length, corneal curvature and anterior chamber depth were measured with IOL Master (intraoeular len master, IOL. Master) (Carl Zeiss Meditex, Jena, Germany); Intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement was obtained using a non-contact tonometry (NT-510, NIDEK, Gamagori, Japan). Cycloplegia was achieved by 0.5% tropicamide eye drops. Six drops of tropicamide 0.5% were administered at 5-minute intervals for both eyes. Refractometry was performed 20 minutes after the last cycle of cycloplegic eye drops by retinoscopy (YZ-24, Suzhou, China).
Time frame: Baseline, Month 12
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.