Investigation of the Influence of Proximity Alert on near-work Behavior in Chinese Myopic Children.

Abstract

Purpose : In a review, Huang et al (2015) found that more time spent on near work activities was associated with higher odds of myopia. Clouclip^TM is a device that monitors and changes juveniles’ visual behavior which relate to myopia development. The device is able to measure factors like working distance and duration of near work and outdoor activities. It reminds users through a buzz to correct their habits when they read too near (< 30 cm) or work too long at near. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of proximity alert of Clouclip^TM on near-work behavior in Chinese myopic children.

Methods : A total of 24 myopic children aged 8 to 13 years (mean ± SD, 10.83 ± 1.01 years) were involved in this study. Their spherical equivalent ranged from - 0.75D to - 4.00D (-2.39 ± 0.87 D). All subjects were equipped with Clouclip^TM during the study. During the two weeks of the first trial period (Step 1), the proximity alert for all subjects was disabled. During the second two weeks trial period (Step 2), the proximity alert for all subjects was enabled. Parameters such as working distance, percentage of active time spent too near, and near working alarms of two steps were then calculated for analysis. Activities between weekdays and weekends were also compared.

Results : Near-work distance measured during Step1 (32.35 ± 5.86 cm) increased significantly after activating the proximity alert during Step 2 (34.20 ± 3.54 cm, P < 0.05). Percentage of average active time spent too near for all wearers decreased from Step 1 to Step 2 for both weekdays and weekends, (Weekday: 22.85% to 19.87% and Weekend: 23.34% to 18.17% respectively). Number of near working alarms decreased from Step 1 to Step 2 for both weekdays and weekends, (Weekday: 195.55/hour to 126.34/hour and Weekend: 146.32/hour to 97.46/hour respectively).

Conclusions : The study demonstrated that enabling the proximity alert of Clouclip^TM for 2 weeks has a positive influence on near working behavior in Chinese myopic children which could have a possible effect in reducing myopia progression.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.