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The refractive status of Hong Kong Chinese infants
1Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic.
Insights
Refractive error in Hong Kong Chinese infants showed a rapid decrease between 10 and 40 weeks. Astigmatism was predominantly with-the-rule, and anisometropia prevalence declined with age.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Optometry
- Infant Vision Development
Background:
- Refractive error development in infants is crucial for visual health.
- Limited longitudinal data exists for refractive error progression in East Asian infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate refractive error, astigmatism, and anisometropia in Hong Kong Chinese infants.
- To document the changes in visual parameters from 10 to 40 weeks of age.
Main Methods:
- Retinoscopy was performed on 158 infants at 10 weeks.
- 50 infants were re-examined at 20, 30, and 40 weeks.
- Cycloplegia (1% cyclopentolate) and photographic methods were employed.
Main Results:
- Mean spherical equivalent at 10 weeks was comparable to Caucasian infants.
- A significant, rapid decrease in refractive error occurred between 10 and 40 weeks.
- Astigmatism was mostly with-the-rule; anisometropia prevalence decreased with age.
Conclusions:
- Infant refractive error undergoes rapid changes in the first 40 weeks.
- Astigmatism directionality and decreasing anisometropia are key findings.
- These results provide valuable insights into early visual development in Chinese infants.
Abstract:
One hundred and fifty-eight full-term Hong Kong Chinese infants were examined, at the age of approximately 10 weeks, using retinoscopy. Fifty of the subjects were re-examined at the ages of 20, 30 and 40 weeks. Cyclopentolate 1% was used to produce cycloplegia. Photographic methods were used to assess the straightness of the eyes of 122 infants. While the mean spherical equivalent of the refractive error at 10 weeks was within the limits reported in studies of Caucasian infants, a rapid decrease, not previously reported, occurred between the ages of 10 and 40 weeks. The amounts of astigmatism found were in line with results from Caucasian eyes but the direction was overwhelmingly with-the-rule. The prevalence of anisometropia decreased with age and anisometropia was not prevalent at the age of 37 weeks. Two exotropes (1.6%) and no esotropes were identified although this may have been confounded by the use of cyclopentolate.