Shao-En Chan1, Hsi-Kung Kuo1, Chia-Ling Tsai2, Pei-Chang Wu3. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, 2F, No. 123, Dapi Rd, Niaosong Dist, Kaohsiung City, 83301, Taiwan (R.O.C.). 2. Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 3. Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, 2F, No. 123, Dapi Rd, Niaosong Dist, Kaohsiung City, 83301, Taiwan (R.O.C.). wpc@adm.cgmh.org.tw.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To study the prevalence, type, and progression of astigmatism in primary school children, and its effect on myopic shift. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study carried out in a primary school in southern Taiwan. METHODS: The study was performed on a subset of children, one year after initial examination. Refractive error measured by cycloplegic autorefraction was the main study outcome. Astigmatism was recorded as negative cylinder form, and we defined clinical significant astigmatism (CSA) as cylinder refraction -1.0 D or greater. Myopia was defined as a spherical equivalent refraction (SER) of -0.50 D or greater. RESULTS: Three hundred sixty-two children, mean age was 8.97 y/o (SD 1.41; range 7 to 11 y/o) participated in the study. One hundred nineteen (32.9 %) subjects had CSA at the initial screening. The mean cylinder refraction was -0.80 + 0.84 diopters (D) (-5.25 D to 0.00 D), with predominant with rule astigmatism (69.7%). In the 183 children studied longitudinally, the mean cylinder refraction was reduced from -0.74 D to -0.58 D (p< 0.05). The cylinder refraction in the initial CSA group was not associated with SER change (p=0.99) or axial length change (p=0.55). Compared to the initial non-CSA group, the initial CSA group had no significant difference in axial length elongation (p=0.20). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of astigmatism was not low in the Chinese primary school children and with-the-rule astigmatism was predominant. The astigmatism decreased during the 1 year follow-up. The CSA was not associated with myopia progression (p=0.99).
PURPOSE: To study the prevalence, type, and progression of astigmatism in primary school children, and its effect on myopic shift. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study carried out in a primary school in southern Taiwan. METHODS: The study was performed on a subset of children, one year after initial examination. Refractive error measured by cycloplegic autorefraction was the main study outcome. Astigmatism was recorded as negative cylinder form, and we defined clinical significant astigmatism (CSA) as cylinder refraction -1.0 D or greater. Myopia was defined as a spherical equivalent refraction (SER) of -0.50 D or greater. RESULTS: Three hundred sixty-two children, mean age was 8.97 y/o (SD 1.41; range 7 to 11 y/o) participated in the study. One hundred nineteen (32.9 %) subjects had CSA at the initial screening. The mean cylinder refraction was -0.80 + 0.84 diopters (D) (-5.25 D to 0.00 D), with predominant with rule astigmatism (69.7%). In the 183 children studied longitudinally, the mean cylinder refraction was reduced from -0.74 D to -0.58 D (p< 0.05). The cylinder refraction in the initial CSA group was not associated with SER change (p=0.99) or axial length change (p=0.55). Compared to the initial non-CSA group, the initial CSA group had no significant difference in axial length elongation (p=0.20). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of astigmatism was not low in the Chinese primary school children and with-the-rule astigmatism was predominant. The astigmatism decreased during the 1 year follow-up. The CSA was not associated with myopia progression (p=0.99).
Entities:
Keywords:
Astigmatism; Myopia; Refraction; School children
Authors: Ge Wen; Kristina Tarczy-Hornoch; Roberta McKean-Cowdin; Susan A Cotter; Mark Borchert; Jesse Lin; Jeniffer Kim; Rohit Varma Journal: Ophthalmology Date: 2013-08-14 Impact factor: 12.079