Could Children’s Myopization Have Been Avoided during the Pandemic Confinement? The Conjunctival Ultraviolet Autofluorescence (CUVAF) Biomarker as an Answer

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of the presence of conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence (CUVAF) with the level and progression of myopia and the impact of reduced sunlight exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic confinement (PC). Methods: A retrospective observational study was carried out using three cohorts, children (9–17 years old), young adults (18–25 years old), and adults (>40 years old) with myopia (≤0.75D) and at least three annual eye examinations (before and after PC). All participants underwent an automatic objective refraction and CUVAF area analysis. All the participants filled out a questionnaire regarding lifestyle and myopia history. Results: The 298 recruited participants showed that during the PC, children’s and young adults' myopia progression rate increased on average by −0.50 and −0.30 D/year, respectively, compared with the pre-pandemic level (p p p p p ® contact lenses) showed a reduction effect in myopic progression rate post-PC in comparison with non-treated children (p p p < 0.01, respectively). Conclusions: The strict restriction of OA during PC led to the rate of myopia progression doubling among children and young adults. This progression occurred mainly in children with previously low myopia, and CUVAF, as a biomarker of OA, reflects its potential to provide benefits in the form of recommended behavioral changes to protect against the development of myopia.

Keywords

• myopia
• CUVAF
• confinement
• outdoors
• COVID-19