Foreword

We are currently at a crucial stage in our fight against COVID-19. The most effective way to prevent the virus from spreading is “staying home”. The medical and public health terminology is “quarantine”. Its effectiveness has been proven by efforts across the world in the past few months. Therefore,“staying home” has become an important practice to protect ourselves and families, and make a unique contribution to our communities.

Given the strong contagiousness of COVID-19, educational institutions were closed. Learning transitioned online, a major educational model in the past few months that will likely continue into the foreseeable future. Online learning is not nearly the same as learning in a classroom, especially for students between K-12, the largest population in our communities. Teachers have tried every means to provide quality online classes to ensure education continuity and student progression; however, many parents noticed that their children had developed a loss of interest in learning, irregular work and rest schedules, and irritability during the pandemic. Students are confronted with enormous physical and mental health challenges brought by online classes.Their eye health, especially myopia control and prevention, will also face unprecedented tests. While we are imbued with confidence in defeating COVID-19, we need to find effective measures to address emerging problems with the progress of virtual schooling. The education for students should not be compromised or interrupted during this difficult time. This book aims to outline an effective method of balancing “studies at home” and “myopia control and prevention”.

This book is question-oriented. We chose to answer 22 questions that elementary and secondary school students and their parents are most concerned about. We will discuss eye health, myopia control and prevention,and related popular issues. This book is written in an accessible language,so everyone can understand the scientific methods for eye protection and myopia control and prevention.

To finish this special task in such an extraordinary and challenging time, the doctors of Optometry and Ophthalmology from Wenzhou Medical University made joint efforts to promptly write and publish this guide book.We hope that this book will provide practical and effective approaches and mental support to elementary and secondary school students in eye protection and myopia prevention during this critical period.

Fan LU, Jia QU

February 18, 2020