Astigmatism Up After COVID Restrictions - Takeaways - MDSpire
From the Journals
Clinical Guidelines

Astigmatism Up After COVID Restrictions

Researchers identified delayed corneal changes in schoolchildren that emerged after myopia rates had already increased during the pandemic.

  • By

  • Kathryn Wighton

  • May 12, 2026

  • 5 min

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  • 1

    Study involved 21,655 children aged 6-8 years in Hong Kong.

  • 2

    Astigmatism rates began to rise in 2021, post-COVID restrictions.

  • 3

    Refractive astigmatism prevalence increased from 25% in 2020 to 35% by

  • 4

    Cumulative corneal exposure is thought to influence astigmatism.

  • 5

    Increased digital device usage and reduced outdoor time noted.

  • 6

    Study calls for enhanced pediatric eye surveillance.

  • 7

    Limitations include potential biases in parental astigmatism reporting.

  • 8

    Findings suggest delayed implications for pediatric eye health strategies.

Original Source(s)

Astigmatism Up After COVID Restrictions

  • by Kathryn Wighton

  • May 12, 2026

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