Ophthalmological findings in 10-year-old full-term children--a population-based study
Eva Larsson1, Gerd Holmström, Agneta Rydberg
1Department of Neuroscience/Ophthalmology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Insights
This study establishes normal ophthalmological parameters for 10-year-old children in Stockholm. Findings provide essential baseline data for identifying visual impairments in pediatric eye conditions.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Optometry
- Public Health
Background:
- Establishing normative data for visual functions in healthy children is critical for accurate diagnosis of eye diseases.
- This population-based study focuses on 10-year-old children to create a reference standard.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine key ophthalmological parameters in healthy, full-term 10-year-old children.
- To provide a benchmark for evaluating visual health in pediatric populations.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive ophthalmological examinations were conducted on 217 children.
- Methods included visual acuity (VA) testing, cycloplegic retinoscopy, ocular motility assessment, stereopsis, contrast sensitivity, accommodation, and near point of convergence measurements.
Main Results:
- The vast majority of children exhibited normal visual acuity (distance VA: 82% ≥ -0.1 logMAR; near VA: 93% ≥ -0.1 logMAR).
- Prevalence of refractive errors included hypermetropia (3.6%), myopia (7.8%), and significant astigmatism (4.1%).
- Manifest strabismus was observed in 3.2% of children, with heterophoria being common (80.2%).
Conclusions:
- This study provides crucial normative ophthalmological data for 10-year-old children.
- The findings serve as a valuable control dataset for ophthalmological examinations of children with various eye diseases and syndromes.
Purpose:
To determine different ophthalmological parameters in 10-year-old, healthy, full-term children in Stockholm County, Sweden.
Methods:
Two hundred and seventeen children were included in the study. Best-corrected distance and near visual acuities (VA) were measured using logMAR charts. Cycloplegic retinoscopy was performed, and spherical equivalent and astigmatism were determined. Examination of ocular movement and cover test for distance and near were performed. Stereopsis was assessed with the TNO test, and contrast sensitivity with the Vistech test. The Royal Air Force rule was used for assessing accommodation, and near point of convergence was measured with the Lang fixation stick. Ophthalmoscopy was performed through dilated pupils.
Results:
Eighty-two per cent of the children had a distance VA of -0.1 logMAR (1.3 Snellen acuity) or better. None of the children were visually impaired [VA>0.6 logMAR (<0.3 Snellen acuity)]. Ninety-three per cent had a near VA of -0.1 logMAR (1.25 Snellen acuity) or better. Mean spherical equivalent was 0.6 D. Eight (3.6%) children had hypermetropia (≥+2 D), and 17 (7.8%) were myopic (≤-0.5 D). Nine (4.1%) children had an astigmatism≥1 D, and two (0.9%) had anisometropia of ≥1 D. Manifest strabismus was found in seven (3.2%) children, five of whom had exotropia. Heterophoria for distance and/or near was found in 80.2% of the children. In children without manifest strabismus, stereopsis>60 seconds of arc was found in five (2.4%). Three (1.4%) of 215 children had contrast sensitivity below normal limits. Binocular median near point of accommodation was 14 D, and median near point of convergence 6 cm.
Conclusion:
Knowledge of various visual functions in normally developing children is crucial to be able to draw conclusions from ophthalmological examinations in children with eye diseases. This population-based study describes different ophthalmological parameters in full-term ten-year-old children. The material can be used as a control when examining children of similar ages with various ophthalmological conditions, such as groups of children with specific neurological or retinal diseases, and syndromes.
