Relation between physical activity and myopia progression in student population.

AIM To determine the relation between physical activity and myopia progression in student population. Causes of myopia occurrence are not sufficiently explained. METHODS This retrospective-prospective, descriptive research included 100 students with verified myopia up to -3 Dsph. The research was conducted in the Institute for Occupational and Sports Medicine of Zenica-Doboj Canton and at the University of Zenica in the period from January 2011 until January 2012. Ophthalmological examination and Multistage Fitness Test were done twice. RESULTS A significant correlation was recorded only according to assessment of physical competence during the second measurement with a negative sign, indicating that an increase of physical activity had an impact on the decrease of differences in values of automatic computer refractometry in cycloplegia of measurements (right eye Rho: -0.260, p less than 0.01; left eye Rho: - 0.255, p less than 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis of impact on the difference of distance visual acuity without correction as well as the impact on difference of automatic computer refractometry in cycloplegia indicated that assessment of physical competence during the measurements had statistically significant impact on the decrease of distance visual acuity between measurements (right eye OR: I measurement -0.748, II measurement -0.660, p less than 0.05; left eye OR: I measurement -0.613, II measurement -0.515, p less than 0.05) and on decreased difference of automatic computer refractometry in cycloplegia (right eye OR: I measurement -0.822, II measurement -0.831, p less than 0.05; left eye OR: I measurement -0.641, II measurement -0.706, p less than 0.05). CONCLUSION Physical activity did not cause the increase of myopia. This research opened a perspective for other researches on the impact of physical activity on myopia.