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Refractive findings in children with astigmatic parents: the Sydney Myopia Study
Jenny M Ip1, Annette Kifley, Kathryn A Rose
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney (Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Hospital), the Westmead Millennium Institute, and the Vision Co-operative Research Centre, Sydney, Australia.
Insights
Parental astigmatism does not increase the risk of astigmatic errors or affect eye measurements in children. This study found no significant association between parental astigmatism and childhood vision development.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Genetics
- Pediatric Eye Care
Background:
- Astigmatism is a common refractive error affecting vision.
- Understanding genetic predispositions, like parental astigmatism, is crucial for childhood eye health.
- Previous research on the heritability of astigmatism has yielded varied results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between parental astigmatism and astigmatic error in children.
- To determine if parental astigmatism influences ocular biometric parameters in pediatric populations.
- To clarify the genetic contribution to childhood astigmatism.
Main Methods:
- A population-based cross-sectional study involving 6- and 12-year-old children.
- Comprehensive eye examinations including cycloplegic autorefraction and ocular biometry.
- Parental astigmatism data was obtained from spectacle prescriptions for a subset of participants.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in astigmatism prevalence between children with and without astigmatic parents at ages 6 and 12.
- Prevalence rates for astigmatism were 6.8% vs 2.8% (6-year-olds) and 9.5% vs 7.8% (12-year-olds).
- No significant differences in mean cylinder or ocular biometric parameters were found based on parental astigmatism status.
Conclusions:
- Parental astigmatism is not a significant risk factor for developing astigmatism in children.
- The presence of astigmatism in parents does not appear to impact key ocular biometric measurements in their children.
- These findings suggest that factors other than direct parental astigmatism may play a larger role in childhood astigmatism development.
Purpose:
To examine the impact of parental astigmatism on astigmatic error and ocular biometric parameters in children.
Design:
Population-based cross-sectional study.
Methods:
Six-year-old children (n = 1,741; 78.9% response) and 12-year-old children (n = 2,367; 75.3% response) underwent a comprehensive eye examination, including cycloplegic autorefraction and ocular biometry. Astigmatism was determined in parents from spectacle prescriptions, which were supplied for 468 children.
Results:
The prevalence of astigmatism in six-year-old children with astigmatic parents was not significantly different from that of those without astigmatic parents (6.8% vs 2.8%); corresponding rates for 12-year-old children were 9.5% and 7.8% (both P > .05). No significant differences in mean cylinder and in ocular biometric parameters were observed between children with astigmatic parents and those with no astigmatic parents.
Conclusions:
Parental astigmatism was not associated with a higher prevalence of childhood astigmatism and did not seem to have a significant impact on measures of ocular biometric parameters in children.
