[The relationship between accommodative accuracy at different near-work distances and early-onset myopia]

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pediatric Optometry
• Vision Science

Background:

• Early-onset myopia is a growing concern in children.
• Understanding accommodative function is crucial for myopia management.
• Near-work habits are frequently implicated in myopia progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess accommodative accuracy in children with early-onset myopia at various near-work distances.
• To investigate the relationship between accommodative accuracy and the degree of early-onset myopia.
• To compare accommodative responses between myopic and emmetropic children.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving emmetropic children and children with early-onset myopia (corrected and uncorrected).
• Measurements of refractive error and accommodative accuracy using binocular fusion cross cylinder (FCC) via an automatic phoropter.
• Testing at four near-work distances: 50 cm, 40 cm, 30 cm, and 20 cm.

Main Results:

• Accommodative lags were prevalent across all groups, increasing with shorter working distances.
• Accommodative accuracy significantly worsened at 30 cm and 20 cm, with higher FCC values observed in myopic children, especially those uncorrected.
• A statistically significant correlation was found between myopia diopter and accommodative lag (FCC) at 20 cm.

Conclusions:

• Closer near-work distances lead to diminished accommodative accuracy, more pronounced in early-onset myopia.
• Spectacle wear may partially improve accommodative function at near distances (<30 cm).
• High FCC values at 20 cm are associated with early-onset myopia, indicating potential links to refractive error severity.