Relationship between school hours and myopia in Portuguese young adults

Authors

  • Márcia Pedro Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa. Lisboa, Portugal.
  • Pedro Sousa Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa. Lisboa, Portugal.
  • Ricardo Silveira Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa. Lisboa, Portugal.
  • Rita Lopes Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa. Lisboa, Portugal.
  • Susana Plácido Departamento das Ciências da Terapia e Reabilitação, Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa. Lisboa, Portugal.
  • Luís Mendanha Departamento das Ciências da Terapia e Reabilitação, Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa. Lisboa, Portugal.
  • Elisabete Carolino Departamento das Ciências Exatas, da Vida, Sociais e Humanas, Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa. Lisboa, Portugal.
  • Carla Departamento das Ciências da Terapia e Reabilitação, Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa. Lisboa, Portugal | Comprehensive Health Research Center (CHRC), Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Lisboa, Portugal.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25758/set.788

Keywords:

Myopia, High myopia, Age of onset, Time outdoors, School hours, Extracurricular activities, Questionnaire, Young portuguese adults

Abstract

Introduction – Myopia is a common condition with onset at school age. It is a multifactorial refractive anomaly associated with excessive axial length growth. Environmental risk factors are related to near work, number of years of schooling, and reduced outdoor activity. The age of onset of myopia is a risk factor for faster progression and risk of high myopia (≤-5.00
diopters, D). Aims – To study the relationship between school hours, extracurricular activities, and time outdoors and the age of myopia onset in young Portuguese adults. Methods – A descriptive cross-sectional study was developed. Refractive data was collected from seven optical stores in Portugal. The study included individuals between 25 years of age and 40 years of age. Through a questionnaire, data on risk factors (near work, time outdoors, tutorial classes, and years of study) were collected to analyze their influence on the age of onset of myopia and spherical equivalent
(SE). Multiple linear regression models were applied to evaluate factors associated with the age of onset of myopia and SE. Results – Myopic adults (n=54) with SE between -0.50 and -18.50 D were included. The average age was 32.63±4.37 years and 51.85% were female. The mean SE was -3.19±2.96 and the mean age of onset of myopia was 14.44±7.39 years. Adults with more negative
SE had an earlier age of onset (B=2.36; p<0.001). Adults with more years of education (B=-0.20; p=0.030) and earlier age of onset had more negative SE (B=0.17; p<0.001). Conclusions – This study showed that the earlier the age at which myopia appears, the more negative the SE value was. Furthermore, the more negative SE was influenced by a greater number of years of study.

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Published

2023-12-30

Issue

No. 29 (2023): Novembro 2023

Section

Artigos

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How to Cite

Relationship between school hours and myopia in Portuguese young adults. (2023). Saúde & Tecnologia, 29, e788. https://doi.org/10.25758/set.788