Fig 1.
Flow diagram outlining the selection process for the inclusion of studies in the systematic review and meta-analysis.
The electronic database searches identified 14,069 citations. After evaluating these citations and their bibliographies, 11 cross-sectional and 3 cohort studies met the inclusion criteria for quantitative analysis for this systemic review. From: Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG, The PRISAM Group (2009). Preferred Reporting ltems for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISAM Statement. PloS Med 6(6): e1000097. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed1000097. For more information, visit www.prisma-statement.org.
Fig 2.
Forest plot of studies reporting an association between near work and prevalence of myopia (odds ratio).
A pooled odds ratio of 1.14 (95% CI: 1.08–1.20) suggested that near work was associated with myopia.
Fig 3.
Funnel plot with pseudo 95% confidence limits of studies reporting an association between near work and prevalence of myopia.
The funnel plot showed that the distribution of studies was asymmetrical compared to summary estimates.
Fig 4.
Subgroup of studies reporting the association between near work (dichotomized) and prevalence of myopia (odds ratio).
A pooled odds ratio of 1.85 (95% CI: 1.31–2.62) indicated that children who performed more near work were more likely to be myopic.
Fig 5.
Subgroup of studies reporting an association between near work (per diopter-hour/week) and prevalence of myopia (odds ratio).
In children, the odds of myopia increased by 2% (OR:1.02; 95% CI = 1.01–1.03; I2 = 42.8%) for every one diopter-hour more of near work per week.
Fig 6.
Forest plot of studies reporting an association between near work and the incidence of developing myopia (risk ratio, RR).
The incidence of myopia was not increased as children spent more diopter-hours performing near work activities (RR:1.00, 95% CI: 0.99–1.01).
Table 1.
The difference in time spent on near work activities between myopes and non-myopes.
Table 2.
Clinical recommendations for the different behaviors.