Green Space Morphology and School Myopia in China

Green Space Morphology and School Myopia in China

February 4, 2024 | Yahan Yang, MD, PhD; Huipeng Liao, MSc; Lanqin Zhao, MSc; Xun Wang, MD, PhD; XiaoWei Yang, MD, PhD; Xiaohu Ding, MD, PhD; Xuelong Li, PhD; Zhiyu Jiang, PhD; Xingying Zhang, PhD; Qingling Zhang, PhD; Huagui He, BS; Liang Guo, PhD; Hualiang Lin, PhD; Guanghui Dong, MD, PhD; Bryan Spencer, PhD; Mingguang He, MD, PhD; Nathan Congdon, MD, MPH; Ian George Morgan, PhD; Haotian Lin, MD, PhD
This study investigates the association between green space morphology and school myopia in China. Using high-resolution satellite imagery, researchers analyzed landscape metrics to assess how green space characteristics influence myopia prevalence. The study involved 138,735 students in grades 1 to 4 in Shenzhen, China, with follow-up data collected over two years. Key findings indicate that higher proportions, aggregation, and connectivity of green space were correlated with slower increases in myopia prevalence. Principal component analysis revealed that a 1-unit increase in the myopia-related green space morphology index was associated with a 1.7% decrease in school myopia prevalence and a 9.8% reduction in the risk of incident myopia at the individual level. These associations remained significant even after adjusting for factors such as outdoor time, screen time, and parental myopia. The study suggests that optimizing green space morphology could help reduce the burden of myopia, particularly in urban areas. However, further interventional studies are needed to confirm causation and assess the impact of urban planning on myopia prevention. The study highlights the importance of green space in promoting visual health and offers insights for future urban design strategies.This study investigates the association between green space morphology and school myopia in China. Using high-resolution satellite imagery, researchers analyzed landscape metrics to assess how green space characteristics influence myopia prevalence. The study involved 138,735 students in grades 1 to 4 in Shenzhen, China, with follow-up data collected over two years. Key findings indicate that higher proportions, aggregation, and connectivity of green space were correlated with slower increases in myopia prevalence. Principal component analysis revealed that a 1-unit increase in the myopia-related green space morphology index was associated with a 1.7% decrease in school myopia prevalence and a 9.8% reduction in the risk of incident myopia at the individual level. These associations remained significant even after adjusting for factors such as outdoor time, screen time, and parental myopia. The study suggests that optimizing green space morphology could help reduce the burden of myopia, particularly in urban areas. However, further interventional studies are needed to confirm causation and assess the impact of urban planning on myopia prevention. The study highlights the importance of green space in promoting visual health and offers insights for future urban design strategies.
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