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Effect of Increasing Time Spent Outdoors on Myopia Prevention in School-Aged Children in Northeast China

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Myopia
Interventions
Behavioral: increasing time spent outdoors
Registration Number
NCT02271373
Lead Sponsor
Anhui Medical University
Brief Summary

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.

Detailed Description

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.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
3521
Inclusion Criteria
  • Grade of 1 to 5 in elementary schools and grade of 7 to 8 in secondary schools.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Visual defect or other eye diseases; wearing orthokeratology; refractive surgery history.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
intervention groupincreasing time spent outdoorsThe 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.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes in uncorrected visual acuityBaseline, Month 6, Month 12

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.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Questionnaire surveyBaseline

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.

Changes in ocular biometric parametersBaseline, Month 12

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).

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