Representatives Angie Craig, John Joyce Lead Bipartisan Effort to Ensure the CDC Is Adequately Responding to Rise in Childhood Vision Issues due to COVID-19

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN) and John Joyce, M.D. (R-PA) led a bipartisan group of 28 lawmakers in urging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide detailed information on their efforts to prevent and combat a sudden rise in childhood vision challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a letter to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, the Members requested an update on efforts to encourage early detection and prevention of childhood myopia – noting that the degenerative health condition has become increasingly prevalent in children due to increased time learning indoors, oftentimes through a tablet or laptop.

Specifically, the Members requested information from the CDC on:

• The level of outreach done at the CDC to inform parents, children, educators and/or providers about prevention techniques, symptoms and treatment of childhood myopia
• Official recommendations for providers on the subject of childhood myopia
• Information on any outreach plans or recommendations that are under discussion for the future

"As Members of Congress concerned for the health of our nation's children, we write to express our concern with the rising prevalence of childhood myopia, a chronic progressive eye disease that requires immediate attention," the Members wrote.

The Members continued, "Our hope is that working together, we can tackle this disease, and prevent lifelong complications for many Americans. We appreciate your dedication to eye health and stand ready to work with you on this important issue."

According to a recently published study, more time indoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic appeared to be associated with an increase in vision problems among the nation's youth. Specifically, the study observed upwards of a threefold increase in childhood myopia in 2020 compared to the previous five years. There is no existing cure for myopia. Early diagnosis and preventative treatment are crucial to mitigate adverse health outcomes in children. Minimizing near-work engagement through devices such as a tablet or laptop, while increasing time outdoors is critical in reducing the risk of childhood myopia.

Craig and Joyce were joined in sending the letter by Representatives Cindy Axne (D-IA), Don Bacon (R-NE), Troy Balderson (R-OH), Karen Bass (D-CA), Ami Bera (D-CA), Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), John Garamendi (D-CA), Carlos Giménez (R-FL), Michael Guest (R-MS), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), Ron Kind (D-WI), Annie Kuster (D-NH), Rick Larsen (D-WA), John Larson (D-CT), Al Lawson (D-FL), Tom O'Halleran (D-AZ), Steven Palazzo (R-MS), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Rodney Davis (R-IL), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), John Rutherford (R-FL), Kim Schrier (D-WA) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL).

You can find the full text of the letter

February 11, 2022

Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH
Director
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30333

Dear Dr. Walensky,

As Members of Congress concerned for the health of our nation's children, we write to express our concern with the rising prevalence of childhood myopia, a chronic progressive eye disease that requires immediate attention. We request that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide an update on their efforts to encourage early detection and prevention of myopia.

Eye and vision problems in children are a significant global public health concern. Myopia, the most common eye health condition, is a chronic progressive disease that poses the biggest threat to global eye health this century. Children aged 12 and younger who become myopic have a high risk of becoming highly myopic with a commensurate increased risk of developing visually threatening complications later in life. Prevalence of myopia among young adults has skyrocketed in the past 20 years in both eastern and western societies, with nearly 80% of young adults affected in Asian regions, and 50% of young adults affected in the U.S. and parts of Europe. The current COVID-19 pandemic has only intensified the prevalence of myopia, as many children are spending increased hours indoors doing near work activity as they engage in remote learning.

As you know, eye and vision problems can worsen over time and myopia, in particular, is a continuum of disease stages. Low and moderate levels of myopia were previously thought to be merely an optical disorder that inconvenienced those affected by requiring them to wear an optical correction (glasses or contact lenses) or to have refractive surgery. However, detrimental impacts of myopia have been observed in diverse aspects of daily living, including activity limitation, economic wellbeing, emotional wellbeing, physical impacts, and social wellbeing. Higher levels of myopia have an even more dramatic impact on quality of life.iv Any degree of myopia increases risk of complications, including myopic macular degeneration, retinal detachment, cataracts, and primary open-angle glaucoma, with the risk increasing exponentially with increasing levels of myopia.

There is no existing cure for myopia. As such, prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment are crucial to mitigate many of the long-term effects highlighted above. Preventing future vision loss and ensuring lifetime eye health can be facilitated through equitable access to high quality, comprehensive eye care for all children. Comprehensive eye exams are important not only for refractive correction, or what it takes to bring vision acuity to 20/20, but for finding eye diseases and preserving vision. The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends that children receive a comprehensive eye exam at least once between the ages of 3-5 years old to establish baseline measurements and be provided continuing examinations at least annually until the age of 18 years old. With frequent and comprehensive eye examinations, providers are better able to delay the potential onset and slow myopia progression rather than just correcting the visual symptoms experienced later in life.

Given these concerns, we would like to know what the CDC is currently doing to encourage early detection and prevention of myopia. Specifically:

Please outline any current initiatives by the CDC related to childhood myopia;

• What level of outreach does the CDC do to inform parents, children, educators and/or providers about prevention techniques, symptoms and treatment of childhood myopia?
• Does the CDC have official recommendations for providers on the subject of childhood myopia?
• Are there any outreach plans or recommendations under discussion for the future?

Our hope is that working together, we can tackle this disease, and prevent lifelong complications for many Americans. We appreciate your dedication to eye health and stand ready to work with you on this important issue.

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