Myopia-causing social and hygienic factors in urban schoolchildren

Myopia in schoolchildren is a serious problem. The frequency of its detection in the lower grades of the school is 6–8%, and by the end of school – at least 25–30%. In special school this indicator reaches 50%, which is associated with more intense and longer visual loads, prolonged work at the computer and more frequent use of other electronic storage media. The genesis and progression of myopia is largely due to the intensive educational process in which schoolchildren are involved already from the first year of study, as well as to the corresponding violations of the hygiene of their visual work at close range. The article presents the results of a retrospective analysis of case histories of 53 school-age children living in St. Petersburg. The role of socio-hygienic factors related to the schoolchildren’s connected their family life (including material well-being) and the availability of modern technical means (computers, video game consoles, mobile phones, etc.) was studied. An analysis of “external” factors (deficient physical activity of the child, change of the daily regimen, later visit of the child’s parents by an ophthalmologist), which have a negative impact on the development and progression of myopia in schoolchildren, was also relevant. Based on the results of the study, recommendations were developed for the observation and correction of myopia in schoolchildren.