Dietary patterns linked to myopia risk in children and adolescents

A large cross-sectional study suggests that dietary patterns may be associated with myopia risk in children and adolescents.

Researchers analyzed data from 24,797 participants enrolled in the Child and Adolescent Research of Eye study. Parents completed a food frequency questionnaire to report dietary intake, and principal component analysis was used to identify overall dietary patterns.

Two primary dietary patterns were identified. A nuts–tubers–vegetables pattern, marked by higher consumption of nuts, tubers, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and aquatic products, was associated with a lower likelihood of myopia among participants with the highest adherence compared with those with the lowest adherence (P = 0.046).

In contrast, a snacks pattern, characterized by greater intake of fried and barbecued foods, fast foods, savory snacks, sugar-sweetened beverages, desserts, and processed meats, was associated with a higher likelihood of myopia in those with the greatest adherence (P = 0.021).

Reference
Li T, Yang J, Yan J, et al. Association Between Dietary Patterns and Myopia Among Children and Adolescents: A School-Based Cross-Sectional Study. J Ophthalmol. 2026;2026:3892394. doi: 10.1155/joph/3892394. PMID: 41727525; PMCID: PMC12921364.