Myopia Progression during COVID-19 Home Quarantine in Indonesia: A Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Study

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Summary

COVID-19 home quarantine significantly accelerated myopia progression in Indonesian children aged 8–17, with lifestyle factors such as excessive screen time, reduced outdoor activity, and altered sleep patterns as key drivers. Lighting designers and public health practitioners should consider how indoor-dominant, screen-heavy environments with limited natural light exposure compound visual health risks in youth.

Key Findings

Significant increase in spherical equivalent refraction (SER) progression of -0.97 ± 1.04 D during the pandemic period (p<0.001)
Urban children in Java-Bali showed greater SER progression (-1.3 ± 1.18 D) compared to non-Java-Bali regions (-0.57 ± 0.67 D, p<0.001)
Screen time ≥4 hours/day for leisure associated with fast myopia progression (OR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.07–3.54, p=0.028)
Outdoor time ≤1 hour/day associated with fast myopia progression (OR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.03–3.47, p=0.047)
Sleep duration >8 hours associated with fast myopia progression (OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.46–4.99, p=0.002)
Younger age (OR: 2.52, p=0.004) and female gender (OR: 2.16, p=0.011) were also significant risk factors for accelerated progression