Sports and Myopia: An Investigation on the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Myopia in Young Sports-Related Groups in Tianjin, China

OBJECTIVE. To explore the relationship between sports and the prevalence of myopia in young sports-related groups in Tianjin, China. METHODS. In this cross-sectional study, a cluster sampling method was used to survey professional athletes in Tianjin, students at Tianjin University of Sport, and Tianjin Voca-tional College of Sports. All participants completed epidemiological questionnaires and ophthalmic examinations. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to explore the potential risk factors of myopia. RESULTS. This study recruited 1401 participants. The prevalence of myopia was 50.18%. The prevalence of low, moderate, and high myopia were 52.63%, 37.41%, and 9.96%, respectively. There were no sex-related differences in the prevalence of myopia. The odds of having myopia was 1.788 times higher in the indoor sports group than the outdoor sports group (the adjusted odds ratio [OR], 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.391-2.297). Training time of more than 4 h/d (4-6 h/d: OR, 0.539; 95% CI, 0.310-0.938; >6 h/d: OR, 0.466; 95% CI, 0.257-0.844) resulted in a lower risk of myopia. Participants who often used the electronic screen (OR, 1.406; 95% CI, 1.028-1.923) and/or had a family history of myopia (OR, 2.022; 95% CI, 1.480-2.763) were more likely to suffer from myopia. CONCLUSIONS. Outdoor sports do not necessarily guarantee to insulate against myopia. Youngsters engaged in outdoor sports had a lower prevalence of myopia than those participating in indoor sports. Electronic screen use, training time, and family history of myopia were also associated with the prevalence of myopia in young sports-related groups.

Automated summary

In young sports-related groups in Tianjin, China, engaging in outdoor sports was associated with a lower prevalence of myopia. However, the use of electronic screens, training time, and family history of myopia were factors that contributed to a higher prevalence of myopia.