You can add vision problems the list of lingering issues caused by lockdowns during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A new review shows as many as 1 in 3 children and teens around the world has myopia, also known as nearsightedness or shortsightedness. It's an eye condition that causes distant objects to appear blurry, and scientists say there was a significant spike in cases after the pandemic.
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In research, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, analyzed 276 studies that included more than 5.4 million children and teens from 50 countries across six continents.
The analysis revealed that myopia diagnoses more than tripled in overall prevalence between 1990 and 2023 -- rising from 24% in 1990-2000 to 25% in 2001-10, followed by much sharper increases to 30% in 2011-19, and 36% in 2020-23, equivalent to around 1 in every 3 children and teens.
The COVID-19 pandemic likely had a role in the sharp increase after 2020, the researchers suggested.
"During the pandemic, many countries implemented nationwide lockdowns to curb the spread of the virus," lead study author Dr. Yajun Chen, a professor at Sun Yat-sen University in China, told Fox News Digital. "Prolonged indoor living reduced outdoor activity for children and adolescents while increasing screen time, potentially exacerbating the ocular burden on this population and worsening the myopia crisis."
Based on the figures and trends up to 2023, overall global myopia prevalence is projected to reach around 40% by 2050, exceeding 740 million cases, up from 600 million in 2030, according to the study.
It is expected to be higher among girls and young women than among boys and young men: 33% vs 31% in 2030; 40% vs 35.5% in 2040; and 42% vs 37.5%, respectively, in 2050.
And it is expected to be significantly higher among 13–19 year-olds than among 6–12 year-olds, with projected rates of 43% vs 21% in 2030, 49% vs 24% in 2040, and 52.5% vs 27.5%, respectively, in 2050.
Low and middle income countries are expected to have a higher prevalence than high income countries, with a projected rate of 41% by 2050.
"Given the large sample size included, our estimates of the prevalence of myopia are considered to be close to the precise number," the study noted. "It is crucial to recognize that myopia may become a global health burden in the future."
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