Prevalence Of Anisometropia Research Articles

Longitudinal refractive errors over 36 months in Hispanic and Black children.

This study brings awareness of racial/ethnic difference of refractive error characteristics in clinics. This study aimed to assess longitudinal change in refractive errors over a 36-month period in Hispanic and Black children. Children (2.4 to 15 years old) were studied. Cycloplegic refraction was measured annually. Spherical equivalent was calculated. Astigmatism was evaluated by magnitude of cylinder and power vector (J0 and J45). Absolute value of interocular spherical equivalent difference was used to calculate anisometropia. Mixed-linear model was used to analyze longitudinal annual change in spherical equivalent, cylinder, J0, and J45 over 36 months. A total of 485 participants (310 Black, 175 Hispanic) met the criteria. At the baseline examination, prevalence of myopia, emmetropia, and hyperopia was 39% (n = 187), 31% (n = 150), and 30% (n = 148), respectively. Spherical equivalent of Black children was not significantly different from that in Hispanic children (0.10 ± 2.92 vs. -0.37 ± 2.05 D, p=0.06); however, the Hispanic children had a significantly higher cylinder compared with Black children (Hispanic: 1.46 ± 1.57 D vs. Black: 0.92 ± 1.07 D; p<0.001). Both J0 (p<0.001) and J45 (p=0.01) were significantly different between two groups; the Hispanic children had more with-the-rule astigmatism and oblique astigmatism than the Black children. Prevalence of anisometropia (≥1 D) was higher in Black children (14%) compared with Hispanic children (5%, p=0.006). Over 36 months, spherical equivalent significantly decreased an average of 0.69 D (0.23 D/y, p<0.001) for both groups; neither astigmatism nor anisometropia changed significantly (p>0.05). Astigmatism in the Hispanic children was significantly higher than in Black children. However, the Black children had a higher prevalence and degree of anisometropia than the Hispanic children.

Anisometropia and its correction in children in northwest China: A study based on autorefraction data.

To investigate the prevalence and correction of anisometropia among primary school children in northwestern China. A cross-sectional school-based study was conducted in Shaanxi Province. Visual acuity (VA) and autorefraction without cycloplegia were assessed in all participants, and some received axial length (AL) measurements. Anisometropia was categorised based on spherical equivalent (SE), cylindrical (CYL), and AL. The prevalence of anisometropia and refractive correction across different ages and sexes, and correlations between ocular parameters, were analysed. The study included 29 153 children aged 6-12 (mean age 9.52 ± 1.73 years) for VA and autorefraction measurements, and 1176 children for AL measurements. The prevalence of myopia (SE ≤ -0.50 D), hyperopia (SE ≥ +0.50 D), and anisometropia (interocular SE difference ≥1.00 D) was 65.26%, 15.09%, and 16.50%, respectively. Anisometropia severity, based on SE (χ2 = 443.758, p < 0.001), CYL (χ2 = 41.669, p < 0.001), and AL (χ2 = 95.505, p < 0.001), increased with age, with no significant differences between sexes. Interocular SE difference correlated with interocular spherical power (r = 0.806, p < 0.001), CYL (r = 0.21, p < 0.001), and AL (r = 0.365, p < 0.001). Additionally, interocular CYL difference was positively correlated with interocular AL difference (r = 0.16, p < 0.001). Despite the high prevalence of anisometropia, less than 30% of affected children received refractive correction. Anisometropia of SE, CYL, and AL increased progressively with age. Despite the elevated prevalence of anisometropia, the utilisation of refractive correction remained strikingly low.

Prevalence of anisometropia and its associated factors in school-age children

ABSTRACT Purpose To determine the prevalence of anisometropia and the associated demographic and biometric risk factors in children. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on the elementary school children of Shahroud, east of Iran, in 2015. All rural students were recruited, while multistage cluster sampling was used to select the students in urban areas. All children underwent optometric examinations including the measurement of uncorrected and corrected visual acuity, autorefraction, and subjective refraction with cycloplegia. Biometric components were measured using the Allegro Biograph. Myopia and hyperopia were defined as a spherical equivalent ≤−0.5 and ≥ +2.00 diopter, respectively. Students with a history of ocular trauma or lack of cycloplegic refraction at least in one eye were excluded from the study. Results Of 6624 selected children, 5620 participated in the study. After applying the exclusion criteria, the data of 5357 students (boys: 52.8%, n = 2834) were analyzed. The mean age of the subjects was 9.2 ± 1.7 years (range: 6–12 years). The prevalence of anisometropia ≥ 1 D was 1.1% (95% CI: 0.8 to 1.4) in all children, 1.0% (95% CI: 0.7–1.3) in boys, 1.3% (95% CI: 0.8–1.7) in girls, 1.1% (95% CI: 0.8–1.4) in urban children, and 1.4% (95% CI: 0.5–2.3) in rural children. The prevalence of anisometropia was 8.8% (95% CI: 5.3–12.2) in myopic and 5.7% (95% CI: 2.8–8.5) in hyperopic children. Axial length asymmetry (OR = 40.9; 95%CI: 10.2–164.1), myopia (OR = 17.9; 95% CI: 9.4–33.9), and hyperopia (OR = 10.1; 95% CI: (5.1–19.7) were associated with anisometropia in multiple logistic regression model. More anisometropia was associated with more severe amblyopia. The odds of amblyopia (OR = 82.3: 38.2-177-3) and strabismus (OR = 17.6: 5.5–56.4) were significantly higher in anisometropic children. The prevalence of amblyopia was 21.7% in children with myopic anisometropia ≥ 3D, 66.7% in children with hyperopic anisometropia ≥ 3D, and 100% in cases with antimetropia ≥ 3D. Conclusion The prevalence of anisometropia was low in Iranian school children. However, a high percentage of anisometropic students had amblyopia and strabismus. Axial length was the most important biometric component associated with anisometropia.

Systematic ophthalmologic evaluation in cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome: A genotype-endophenotype correlation.

Cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome (CFCS) is a rare genetic disorder belonging to the RASopathies, a group of developmental syndromes caused by upregulated RAS/MAPK signaling. Pathogenic variants affecting four genes, KRAS, BRAF, MAP2K1 and MAP2K2, encoding core signal transducers of the pathway, underlie the condition. Major clinical features include a distinctive facies, ectodermal and cardiac anomalies, reduced postnatal growth, intellectual disability, and musculoskeletal abnormalities. Similar to other RASopathies, reports of visual impairment, high refractive error, optic nerve pallor, and other ocular abnormalities have been anecdotally reported in the literature. The aim of our study is to report the prevalence of ophthalmologic abnormalities in a large monocentric cohort of individuals affected by CFCS and explore the occurrence of genotype-endophenotype correlations in this series of patients. We observed that BRAF mutations are associated to a higher prevalence of anisometropia >3D (11.8% vs. 0%) and high astigmatism (29.4% vs. 0%; both p < 0.001) while patients with mutations in other genes had a significantly higher prevalence of myopia >6 D (60% vs. 5.9%; p = 0.012). Pale optic disc was associated with higher prevalence of inferior oblique muscle (IO) overaction (33.3% vs. 0%) and lower prevalence of ptosis (0% vs. 11.8%; both p < 0.001). Combined exotropia, IO overaction and nystagmus were frequent in patients with pale optic nerve. Our findings might suggest the need for earlier ophthalmologic referral for CFCS patients due to high risk of amblyopia, especially those expressing BRAF mutations.

The study of anisometropia and its association with amblyopia in school going children

To determine the prevalence and type of anisometropia among school going children and to study association of degree of anisometropia with severity of amblyopia. A hospital based cross-sectional study carried on 500 school going children up to 10th grade (Age group:- 5 years to 16 years) selected by non-probability convenient sampling according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The clinical profile of these children was evaluated in department of ophthalmology, P.D.U Govt. medical college, Rajkot and they underwent detail visual assessment and ophthalmic examinations including measurement of uncorrected visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity, auto-refraction, retinoscopy, subjective correction and detailed squint evaluation, if present. During period of November 2019 to February 2021 during school health programme. Total of 500 school going children were enrolled in the study, out of which 221(44.2%) were females and 279 (55.8%) were males. The prevalence of anisometropia in our study was 23.8% (119 childrens out of 500 childrens). Out of total 119 childrens, 47 were males (39.5%) and 72 were females (60.5%). Maximum patients with anisometropia (n=54 out of 119 patients) were having compound hypermetropia. Prevalance of anisometropia increased as the age increased, till age of 14 years, and then again there occurs a declining trend. X2 = 10.139, p value = 0.051 and it was statistically significant. In our study, prevalence of amblyopia was 8.8% (n=44 out of 500 patients) and among amblyopic patients, 59% patients (n=26 out of 44 patients) had amblyopia due to anisometropia. Out of 26 patients with amblyopia due to anisometropia, 73.1% patients (n= 19 out of 26 patients) were anisohypermetropic and 26.9% patients (n= 7 out of 26 patients) were anisomyopic. In our study, depth and prevalence of amblyopia increased as the degree of anisometropia increased and it was found to be statistically significant(p=0.045).Our study concludes that the prevalence of anisometropia was high (59%) among the amblyopic patients with maximum patients having compound hypermetropic anisometropia. Depth and prevalence of amblyopia increased as the degree of anisometropia increased.

Prevalence of anisometropia and influencing factors among school-age children in Nantong, China: a cross-sectional study.

To investigate the prevalence of anisometropia and associated parameters among school-aged children in Nantong, China. This school-based, cross-sectional study examined students from primary schools, junior high schools, and senior high schools in an urban area of Nantong, China. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the specific correlations between anisometropia and related parameters. Non-cycloplegic autorefraction was assessed for each student. Anisometropia was defined as the spherical equivalent refraction (SE) difference ≥ 1.0 D between eyes. A total of 9,501 participants were validated for analyses, of which 53.2% (n = 5,054) were male, and 46.8% (n = 4,447) were female. The mean of age was 13.32 ± 3.49 years, ranging from 7-19 years. The overall prevalence of anisometropia was 25.6%. Factors such as myopia, scoliosis screening positive, hyperopia, female sex, older age, and higher weight had a significantly higher risk of anisometropia (p < 0.05). There was a high prevalence of anisometropia in school-age children. Some physical examination parameters are closely related to children's anisometropia, especially myopia and scoliosis. Preventing myopia and controlling its progression may be the most important ways to reduce the prevalence of anisometropia. Correcting scoliosis may be an important factor in controlling the prevalence of anisometropia, and maintaining good reading and writing posture may be helpful in controlling the prevalence of anisometropia.

Anisometropia and its association with refraction development in highly myopic children

ABSTRACT Clinical relevance Anisometropia can affect visual development in children. Investigations of anisometropia in high myopes would explore potential causes related to anisometropia, highlighting the management of anisometropia in high myopia. Background The prevalence of anisometropia ranged from 0.6% to 4.3% in general paediatric population and from 7% to 14% in myopes. Anisometropia is regarded as an associated factor for myopia development, while myopia progression is a stimulus driving anisometropic development. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of anisometropia and its association with refraction development in Chinese children with high myopia. Methods In the cohort study, a total of 1,577 highly myopic (spherical equivalent ≤−5.0D) children aged 4–18 years were included. Refractive parameters (dioptre of sphere, dioptre of cylinder, corneal curvature radius, and axial length) of both eyes were measured after cycloplegia. The prevalence and degree of anisometropia were compared among refractive groups (non-parametric tests or chi-square tests), and regression analyses were used to determine associated factors of anisometropia. The statistical significance was set to P < 0.05 (two-tailed). Results In highly myopic children with a mean (standard deviation) age of 13.06 (2.80) years, the proportions of spherical equivalent anisometropia, cylindrical anisometropia and spherical anisometropia ≥1.00 D were 34.5%, 21.9% and 39.9%, respectively. There was more spherical equivalent anisometropia associated with more severe astigmatism (P for trend <0.001). In the multivariate regression analysis, more spherical equivalent anisometropia, cylindrical anisometropia and spherical anisometropia were associated with higher degrees of astigmatism (standard beta = −0.175, −0.148 and −0.191, respectively). More spherical anisometropia was associated with better spherical power (standard beta = 0.116). Conclusion The proportion of anisometropia in highly myopic children was high, compared with previously reported general population, and more severe anisometropia was associated with higher degree of cylindrical power, but not spherical power.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Refractive Errors and Effective Spectacle Coverage in Emiratis and Non-Emiratis Aged 40 Years or Older: the Dubai Eye Health Survey.

The aim was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of refractive errors (REs) and the effective spectacle coverage in Emiratis and non-Emiratis in Dubai. The Dubai Eye Health Survey was a population-based cross-sectional study of participants aged 40 years or older. Distance and near visual acuity (VA), and noncycloplegic automated refraction were tested according to a standardized protocol. Distance VA was tested using the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) logMAR chart at 3m and near VA was measured using the near vision logMAR chart at 40cm under ambient lighting. Myopia was defined as spherical equivalent of refraction of less than -0.50 diopters (D), and hypermetropia as spherical equivalent of more than +0.50D. Astigmatism was defined as cylinder power of 0.5D or greater. Effective spectacle coverage for distance vision was computed as met need/(met need+unmet need+under-met need)×100%. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine associations between sociodemographic factors and RE. The authors included 892 participants (446 Emiratis and 446 non-Emiratis) in the analysis. The prevalence of hypermetropia was 20.4% [95% confidence interval (CI): 16.8%-24.4%] in Emiratis and 20.6% (95% CI: 20.0%-24.7%) in non-Emiratis. The prevalence of myopia and high myopia was 27.4% (95% CI: 23.3%-31.7%) and 1.8% (95% CI: 0.8%-3.5%) in Emiratis, and 19.5% (95% CI: 15.9%-23.5%) and 0.9% (95% CI: 0.2%-2.3%) in non-Emiratis, respectively. High education (P=0.02) and not currently working (P=0.002) were risk factors of myopia in non-Emiratis only. The prevalence of astigmatism was 7.4% (95% CI: 5.1%-10.2%) in Emiratis and 1.6% (95% CI: 0.6%-3.2%) in non-Emiratis. This prevalence was higher in individuals aged over 60 years (P<0.001) and men (P=0.014) among Emiratis. The prevalence of anisometropia and uncorrected presbyopia was 11.4% (95% CI: 8.6%-14.8%) and 0.7% (95% CI: 0.1%-2.0%) in Emiratis, and 9.2% (95% CI: 6.7%-12.3%) and 0.4% (95% CI: 0.05%-1.6%) in non-Emiratis, respectively. The effective spectacle coverage was 62.3% (95% CI: 54.0%-70.6%) and 69% (95% CI: 60.5%-77.5%) in Emiratis and non-Emiratis, respectively. A high proportion of Emiratis and non-Emiratis was affected by RE without optimal effective spectacle coverage, highlighting the imperativeness of intervention to alleviate the burden. The findings may help facilitate evidence-based policymaking concerning the delivery of eye care services and allocation of medical resources in Dubai.

Prevalence of anisometropia and associated factors in Shandong school-aged children.

To investigate anisometropia's prevalence and associated factors in school-aged children. A cross-sectional school-based study was conducted in Shandong Province, China, including children aged 4 to 17 from 9 schools. Anisometropia was defined as the differences between the two eyes in spherical equivalent (SE) or cylinder degree of 1.00 diopter (D) or more [SE or cylindrical (CYL) difference ≥ 1.00 D] after cycloplegic autorefraction. The Generalized Linear Model (GLM) was used to analyze the effects of ocular parameters [the differences between eyes in axial length (AL), habitual visual acuity (HVA), and corneal astigmatism (CA)] and lifestyle parameters (time spent indoor near work and outdoor activities) on anisometropia. Total 4,198 (93.4%) of the 4,494 children were included in the statistical analysis. The mean difference in inter-eye SE was 0.42 ± 0.61 D. The prevalence of anisometropia was 13.2% (95%CI: 12.1 to 14.2%) (SE anisometropia's prevalence:10.3%; CYL anisometropia's prevalence: 4.1%), increased with older age (OR = 1.10, P = 0.002), the worse myopic eye (myopia vs. premyopia, OR = 1.87, P = 0.002), the worse hyperopic eye (hyperopia vs. premyopia, OR = 1.77, P = 0.013), larger difference in inter-eye AL (0.1-0.3 vs. ≤ 0.1, OR = 1.67, P = 0.008; >0.3 vs. ≤ 0.1, OR = 28.61, P < 0.001), HVA (>0.2 vs. ≤ 0.2, OR = 3.01, P < 0.001), CA (OR = 6.24, P < 0.001), the worse stereoacuity (>100 vs. ≤ 100, OR = 1.59, P = 0.001), longer indoor near work time per day on weekends (4-8 vs. <4, OR = 1.41, P = 0.038; ≥8 vs. <4, OR = 1.40, P = 0.131), and shorter outdoor activity time per day on weekdays (≥1 vs. <1, OR = 0.75, P = 0.046) in multivariable analysis. In the SE anisometropia group, the difference in inter-eye AL (>0.3 vs. ≤ 0.1, β: 0.556, 95%CI: 0.050 to 1.063), HVA (>0.2 vs. ≤ 0.2, β: 0.511, 95%CI: 0.312 to 0.710), and CA (β: 0.488, 95%CI: 0.289 to 0.688), stereoacuity (>100 vs. ≤ 100, β: 0.299, 95%CI: 0.110 to 0.488) had a positive impact on the difference in inter-eye SE. Ocular parameters and lifestyle parameters are associated with the occurrence of anisometropia in children aged 4 to 17 years, including the difference in inter-eye AL, HVA, CA, stereoacuity, indoor near work time, and outdoor activity time. Preventing myopia and early treating anisometropic amblyopia may be effective ways to reduce the prevalence of anisometropia.

Anisometropia Profile in Elderly Population: Tehran Geriatric Eye Study

ABSTRACT Purpose To investigate the distribution and prevalence of anisometropia according to age, gender and ocular biometry in a geriatric population in Tehran, Iran. Methods The present study was conducted on the geriatric population aged above 60 years. The study participants were selected using stratified random cluster sampling. The uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuity, dry objective (ARK510A, Nidek Co. 42 LTD, Aichi, Japan) and subjective refraction and ocular biometry (IOL Master 500; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Jena, Germany) were recorded for each patient. The magnitude and prevalence of anisometropia were evaluated in association with influential factors in cut-points of 0.50, 1.00, 1.50 and 2.00 diopter (D). Results The mean age of participants (3237 individuals, 54% were female) was 68.19 ± 6.48 (range: 60–97) years. The mean anisometropia in the whole sample was 0.82 D (95% CI: 0.76 − 0.88 D), which increased from 0.62 D (in those aged 60–64 years old) to 1.36 D (in those above 80 years). The prevalence of anisometropia >1 D in total population, males, and females were 23.81%, 24.9%, and 22.76%, respectively. The odds ratio of anisometropia was higher in cases with cataracts, myopia compared to emmetropia, keratometry asymmetry, axial length asymmetry (P = .001), and corneal diameter asymmetry (all others, P < .001). Conclusion The results of the present study show a high prevalence of anisometropia in elderly population, which was related to refractive error, cataract, age, gender, and ocular biometry asymmetry.

A STUDY OF MAGNITUDE OF ANISOMETROPIA AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH AMBLYOPIA IN SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN

BACKGROUND: Visual impairment is a common handicap among school going children. In some, there are signicant interocular differences in refractive error (ANISOMETROPIA), which can be accompanied by an interocular difference in visual acuity that is optically uncorrectable ( AMBLYOPIA). The co-occurrence of these two anomalies with no additional abnormality is ANISOMETROPIC AMBLYOPIA. Present study is aimed to study magnitude ofANISOMETROPICAMBLYOPIAin children. OBJECTIVES: To study the magnitude ofAnisometropia and its association with amblyopia in school going children. To identify amblyopic children and provide suitable treatment. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A cross- sectional study done over a period of 18 months at a tertiary health care center. School going children of age 7-17 years with refractive error were assessed of their refractive status, ocular examination including slit lamp examination and fundoscopy was done. Children with interocular refractive error difference of &gt;0.75 D were labelled as Anisometropic. Children whose best corrected visual acuity difference of both the eyes was more than two lines on Snellen's chart in absence of other organic cause were considered Amblyopic. Prevalence of anisometropia and its relation with amblyopia was determined. Data were analyzed by Chi-square test .Appropriate refractive correction was given. RESULT: Out of 100 ametropic children, 14 were anisometropic. Out of 14 anisometropic children 5 were amblyopic .Association between anisometropia and amblyopia was statistically signicant (p value &lt; 0.05). It was found that as severity of anisometropia increases, predisposition of development of amblyopia also increases. CONCLUSION:Refractive ansiometropia has a considerable prevalence and is a well-known amblyogenic factor in children. Timely intervention should be done to prevent permanent vision loss.

Anisometropia and refractive status in children with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction—a prospective observational study

To assess the refractive status and anisometropia in children with unilateral and bilateral congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO). Consecutive children newly diagnosed with CNLDO were prospectively enrolled from November 2017 to May 2019. A complete ophthalmic evaluation including cycloplegic refraction was performed followed by appropriate intervention. Patients were followed for 6 months, and cycloplegic refraction was performed at each visit. The final refractive error was defined as the refractive error obtained from the most recent visit. Amblyogenic risk factors were assessed based on 2013 referral criteria of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS). A total of 308 patients with CNLDO were enrolled: 205 (67%) unilateral cases and 103 (33%) bilateral cases. In unilateral cases, the affected eye and unaffected fellow eye showed statistically significant difference in terms of sphere (P < 0.001), cylinder (P = 0.019), and spherical equivalent (P < 0.001); there was no interocular difference in bilateral cases (P > 0.05). Anisometropia was more prevalent in unilateral cases than in bilateral cases (11.2% vs 1.9%; P = 0.005). Based on the 2013 AAPOS referral criteria, 3.9% of the unilateral and 3.9% of bilateral cases exhibited amblyogenic risk factors. Later age of presentation was associated with higher rate of anisometropia (53.8% in the age group >48 months). In our study cohort, unilateral CNLDO was associated with a higher prevalence of anisometropia compared with bilateral CNLDO. The affected eye in unilateral CNLDO had higher prevalence of refractive error.

Prevalence and determinants of refractive error and related ocular morbidities among Saudi adolescence population in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

PURPOSE:The purpose of this study was to determine the magnitude and determinants of refractive error (RE) and related ocular morbidities among preparatory and secondary Saudi students in Riyadh.METHODS:This study was conducted in 2017–2018 at preparatory (12–14 years) and secondary (15–18 years) schools. A “Spot Screener” was used to determine if the child passed or failed a refraction test. Fail test meant RE ≥ ± 0.50 D. Data were collected on refractive status in each eye, anisometropia, and strabismus. The type of RE was estimated and analysis was performed for an association to gender, age, and education levels. The use of spectacle while screening defined the compliance of spectacle wear.RESULTS:The study sample was comprised of 708 Saudi students. There were 59.5% of boys. The prevalence of RE was 43.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 40.0, 47.3). The prevalence of RE in preparatory and secondary students was 44.5% and 43.2%, respectively. The proportion of myopia (≥ −0.5 D) and hyperopia (≥ +0.5 D) among students with RE was 82.2% and 17.8%, respectively. Family history of RE was positively associated to RE in students (odds ratio: 1.8 [95% CI: 1.3, 2.5]). The current screening initiative identified 45 (6.4%) new cases of RE who required spectacles. The compliance rate for using visual aid among students with RE was 74.6%. The prevalence of anisometropia and strabismus was 3.0% and 4.1%, respectively.CONCLUSIONS:A high proportion of Saudi adolescence in Riyadh have RE. Periodic ophthalmic assessment and refractive services are recommended as part of school health screening initiatives.

Prevalence of anisometropia in children and adolescents [version 3; peer review: 2 approved

Prevalence of anisometropia in children and adolescents [version 3; peer review: 2 approved

Prevalence of anisometropia in children and adolescents

Background: This research was developed to study the epidemiology of anisometropia. It aims to estimate the prevalence of anisometropia in Portuguese children and adolescents at various educational stages, studying its association with sociodemographic variables. Methods: Observational cross sectional study envolving 749 children and adolescents (from 3 to 16 years old) from the central region of Portugal. The refraction was performed with a paediatric, open field auto refractometer (PlusOptix), without cycloplegia and under binocular conditions, to determine the rate of anisometropia and its association with gender, study cycle and area of residence. Results: The prevalence of anisometropia in the studied sample was 6.1%, varying from 2.9% in pre-school education to 9.4% in the 3rd study cycle. Myopic anisometropia was the most prevalent and hyperopic and astigmatic anisometropia showed identical proportions of occurrence. No statistical differences were found between genders or between areas of residence regarding the rate of anisometropia. Regarding spherical equivalent anisometropia, there was a pattern of variation that increased with the cycle of studies (p = 0.012), with myopic anisometropia being the main contributor to this variation. Conclusions: This study found an increase in anisometropia with the educational stage. The high rate of anisometropia found in adolescents (9.4%) as well as the progressive increase in this rate throughout school progress (from 2.9% to 9.4%) suggests the need to extend the detection strategies of this condition beyond childhood.

Refractive and Vision Status in Down Syndrome: A Comparative Study

Objectives:To determine the prevalence of refractive errors and visual impairment in Down syndrome (DS) patients compared to normal controls.Materials and Methods:Cycloplegic refraction was tested in 213 DS patients and 184 normal age- and gender-matched controls using autorefraction followed by retinoscopy. Data from the worse eye of each case were used in the analyses.Results:In the DS and control groups, respectively, mean age was 17.2±4.8 and 17.2±4.4 years (p=0.993) and 53.0% and 49.5% were male (p=0.473). In the DS and control groups, respectively, mean spherical equivalent (SE) was -5.13±4.47 and -4.15±3.04 diopters (D) in myopics (p=0.050) and 2.47±1.64 and 2.36±2.04 D in hyperopics (p=0.482), mean cylinder error was -2.17±1.39 and -2.05±1.57 D (p=0.451), mean J0 was -0.03±0.89 and 0.12±0.76 D (p=0.086), and mean J45 was 0.11±1.02 and -0.13±1.03 D (p=0.024). The prevalence of oblique astigmatism was higher in the DS group (20.4% vs. 6.1%) while against-the-rule astigmatism was more prevalent in the control group (84.0% vs. 71.6%) (p<0.001). The prevalence of anisometropia was not significantly different between the groups (19.4% vs. 13.8%). Visual impairment was detected in 11.7% of the DS and 0.5% of the control group (p<0.001). The prevalence of amblyopia was 36.3% and 3.8% in the DS and control groups, respectively (p<0.001). Based on the multiple model, only absolute SE inversely correlated with age and differed between males and females (all p<0.05).Conclusion:In DS patients, the prevalence rates of refractive errors, amblyopia, and visual impairment are higher than those in non-DS individuals, and emmetropization appears to be either defective or slow. Cylinder error is stable in this age range, but the rotation of astigmatism axis is different from normal samples.

Refractive status in a German pediatric cohort: A cross-sectional Analysis of the LIFE Child data

Purpose. Current prevalence rates of myopia in children and adolescents vary all over the world, with especially high prevalence rates in East Asian countries. The objective of this study was to describe the refractive status in children and adolescents growing up in Germany. Material and Methods. Non-cycloplegic refractive status of children of the LIFE Child study in Leipzig, Germany, was measured by wavefront-based autorefraction in 1934 sub- jects (925 girls / 1009 boys), aged 3 to 16 years (mean = 9.05 ± 3.91). Myopia was defined as spherical equivalent refractive error (SE) ≤ -0.75 diopters (D), emmetropia as -0.75 D &gt; SE &lt; +0.75 D, hyperopia as SE ≥ +0.75 D and astigmatism as cylinder ≤ -0.75 D. Anisometropia was defined as a difference of ≥ 1.0 D in the SE between the two eyes. Results. Analysis revealed that refractive error became more myopic with older age (b = -0.08, p &lt; 0.001), with an observed prevalence of myopia of 27 % in 16-year-old children (4 % in 3-year-olds). The true prevalence of myopia might be lower as non-cycloplegic measurements might overestimate ref- ractive error in myopes and underestimate refractive error in hyperopes which in turn may overestimate the prevalence of myopia. The prevalence of anisometropia also increased with growing age (OR = 1.14, observed prevalence in 3- versus 16-year-olds = 2.3 % and 8.1 %, respectively). The prevalence of astigmatism was 11.8 %. Conclusion. Myopia prevalence in German children aged 3 to 16 years is around or even less than 10 %, taking into consideration that measurements were carried out without cycloplegia. Our results are comparable to other European paediatric studies. In comparison to East-Asian countries myopia prevalence, and thus the risk for eye diseases related to high myopia, is much lower in Germany. Keywords Myopia, prevalence, refraction, anisometropia, astigmatism, hyperopia

Prevalence of anisometropia in children and adolescents.

Background: This research was developed to study the epidemiology of anisometropia. It aims to estimate the prevalence of anisometropia in Portuguese children and adolescents at various educational stages, studying its association with sociodemographic variables. Methods: Observational cross sectional study envolving 749 children and adolescents (from 3 to 16 years old) from the central region of Portugal. The refraction was performed with a paediatric, open field auto refractometer (PlusOptix), without cycloplegia and under binocular conditions, to determine the rate of anisometropia and its association with gender, study cycle and area of residence. Results: The prevalence of anisometropia in the studied sample was 6.1%, varying from 2.9% in pre-school education to 9.4% in the 3rd study cycle. Myopic anisometropia was the most prevalent and hyperopic and astigmatic anisometropia showed identical proportions of occurrence. No statistical differences were found between genders or between areas of residence regarding the rate of anisometropia. Regarding spherical equivalent anisometropia, there was a pattern of variation that increased with the cycle of studies (p = 0.012), with myopic anisometropia being the main contributor to this variation. Conclusions: This study found an increase in anisometropia with the educational stage. The high rate of anisometropia found in adolescents (9.4%) as well as the progressive increase in this rate throughout school progress (from 2.9% to 9.4%) suggests the need to extend the detection strategies of this condition beyond childhood.

Prevalence of anisometropia in children and adolescents.

Background: This research was developed to study the epidemiology of anisometropia. It aims to estimate the prevalence of anisometropia in Portuguese children and adolescents at various educational stages, studying its association with sociodemographic variables. Methods: Observational cross sectional study envolving 749 children and adolescents (from 3 to 16 years old) from the central region of Portugal. The refraction was performed with a paediatric, open field auto refractometer (PlusOptix), without cycloplegia and under binocular conditions, to determine the rate of anisometropia and its association with gender, study cycle and area of residence. Results: The prevalence of anisometropia in the studied sample was 6.1%, varying from 2.9% in pre-school education to 9.4% in the 3rd study cycle. Myopic anisometropia was the most frequent and hyperopic and astigmatic anisometropia showed identical proportions of occurrence. No statistical differences were found between genders or between areas of residence regarding the rate of anisometropia. Regarding spherical equivalent anisometropia, there was a pattern of variation that increased with the cycle of studies (× 2(3)= 10.918; p = 0.012), with myopic anisometropia being the main contributor to this variation. Conclusions: An increase in anisometropia with the educational stage, was found in this study. The high rate of anisometropia found in adolescents (9.4%) as well as the progressive increase in this rate throughout school progress (from 2.9% to 9.4%) suggests the need to extend the detection strategies of this condition beyond childhood.

Successes and shortfalls of community Plusoptix photoscreening: results from the iSee study in Southwestern Ontario

ObjectiveThe purpose of this work is to provide the final results from a community-wide photoscreening program in Southwestern Ontario for children aged 18 to 72 months, and to estimate the prevalence of amblyogenic risk factors in this population. Study DesignProspective, multisite photoscreening program. Participants5959 children aged 18–72 months were recruited and screened in Southwestern Ontario at 210 locations over a period of 3 years and 4 months. MethodsOphthalmic screening examinations were performed with the Plusoptix S12 photoscreener. The threshold for the referral criteria used was the manufacturer's criteria on receiver operating characteristics 4. ResultsThe screening was negative in 5386 children (90.4%), positive in 403 (6.8%), and unreadable in 170 (2.9%); 42% of all screened children were ≤36 months old. The estimated amblyogenic risk factor prevalence of anisometropia was 4.0%, astigmatism was 3.1%, hyperopia was 1.1%, myopia was 0.4%, and strabismus was 0.4%. Of the 403 referred children, 99 (24.5%) completed a formal eye examination based on the responses returned to the study site. ConclusionsThis is the first Canadian study that provides data on amblyogenic risk factors based on a volunteer-led photoscreening program. Photoscreening is an effective screening tool, particularly for pre-school-aged children; however, the lack of mandatory follow-up to ensure that children receive proper treatment based on cycloplegic refraction reduces the efficacy of screening.