Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2667-1796

Document Type

Article

Rights

Available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike 4.0 International Licence

Disciplines

Paediatrics, Ophthalmology, Health care sciences and services, Public and environmental health, Epidemiology, Sport and fitness sciences

Publication Details

Clinical and Experimental Optometry

Open Access article

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08164622.2022.2106780

Abstract

Clinical relevance Physical activity is an essential part of childhood physical and mental development. Recent research identified visual problems associated with a sedentary lifestyle in children in Ireland.

Background This study explored the association between visual function in children and their engagement with physical activities outside school.

Methods Participants were 1,626 schoolchildren (728 aged 6–7 years, 898 old 12–13 years) in randomly selected schools in Ireland. Before data collection, parents/legal guardians of participants completed a standardised questionnaire reporting physical activity as no activity (mostly on screens), light activity (occasional walking/cycling), moderate activity (/week engaged in sports), or regular activity (>3hrs/week been involved in sports). Measurements included logMAR monocular visual acuities (with spectacles and pinhole), in the distance (3 m) and near (40 cm), stereoacuity (TNO stereo-test), cover test, and cycloplegic autorefraction (1% cyclopentolate).

Results Controlling for confounders (socioeconomic disadvantage and non-White ethnicity), linear regression analysis revealed presenting distance visual acuity, near visual acuity, and stereoacuity were significantly better amongst participants who reported regular physical activity rather than moderate light or no activity in both 6–7-year-old and 12–13-year-old participants. Absence of clinically-significant refractive error (>−0.50D < 2.00D) was associated with regular physical activity. Participants presenting with visual impairment (better-eye vision <6/12) (odds ratio = 5.78 (2.72–12.29)), amblyopia (pinhole acuity ≤6/12 plus an amblyogenic factor) (odds ratio = 5.66 (2.33–13.76)), and participants at school without their spectacles (odds ratio = 2.20 (1.33–3.63)), were more likely to report no activity.

Conclusions Children regularly engaged in physical activities, including sports, had better visual and stereoacuity; and were less likely to need spectacles. No physical activity was associated with visual impairment, amblyopia, and refractive error, and spectacle wear compliance was associated with regular physical activity. Regular physical activity is an essential factor in childhood vision, and addressing visual impairment in children is vital to increasing participation in sports and exercise. Socioeconomically disadvantaged and non-White communities would benefit most from these measures.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1080/08164622.2022.2106780

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