Purpose To review the impact of increased digital device usage arising from lockdown measures instituted during the COVID-19 pandemic on myopia, and make recommendations for mitigating potential detrimental effects on myopia control. Design Perspective Methods Review of studies focused on digital device usage, near work, and outdoor time in relation to myopia onset and progression. Public health policies on myopia control, recommendations on screen time and information pertaining to the impact of COVID-19 on increased digital device use were presented. Recommendations to minimize the impact of the pandemic on myopia onset and progression in children were made. Results Increased digital screen time, near work and limited outdoor activities were found to be associated with the onset and progression of myopia, and could potentially be aggravated during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak period. While school closures may be short-lived, increased access, adoption and dependence on digital devices could have a long term negative impact on childhood development. Raising awareness among parents, children and government agencies is key to mitigating myopigenic behaviours that may become entrenched during this period. Conclusions While it is important to adopt critical measures to slow or halt the spread of COVID-19, close collaboration between parents, schools and ministries is necessary to assess and mitigate the long term collateral impact of COVID-19 on myopia control policies.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides non-contact, rapid in vivo imaging of ocular structures, and has become a key part of evaluating the anterior segment of the eye. Over the years, improvements to technology have increased the speed of capture and resolution of images, leading to the increasing impact of anterior segment OCT imaging on clinical practice. In this review, we summarize the historical development of anterior segment OCT, and provide an update on the research and clinical applications of imaging the ocular surface, cornea, anterior chamber structures, aqueous outflow system, and most recently anterior segment vessels. We also describe advancements in anterior segment OCT technology that have improved understanding with greater detail, such as tear film in dry eye disease evaluation, intra-operative real-time imaging for anterior segment surgery, and aqueous outflow with angle assessment for glaucoma. Improvements to image processing and software have also improved the ease and utility of interpreting anterior segment OCT images in everyday clinical practice. Future developments include refinement of assessing vascular networks for the anterior segment, in vivo ultra-high resolution anterior segment optical coherence tomography with histology-like detail, en-face image with 3-dimensional reconstruction as well as functional extensions of the technique.
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