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Noncycloplegic Compared with Cycloplegic Refraction in a Chicago School-Aged Population
Xinxing Guo1, Ahmed F Shakarchi1, Sandra S Block2
1Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Ophthalmology
|March 4, 2022
Summary
Noncycloplegic autorefraction in children often shows more myopia than cycloplegic measurements. Younger children and Hispanic individuals are more prone to these refractive differences.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Optometry
- Pediatric Eye Care
Background:
- Accurate refractive error assessment is crucial for school-aged children.
- Cycloplegia is often used to relax accommodation and obtain precise measurements.
- Differences in autorefraction measurements can impact diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare autorefraction measurements with and without cycloplegia in school-aged individuals.
- To identify factors associated with significant differences in refractive error measurements.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional, retrospective study analyzed data from 11,119 individuals aged 3-22 years.
- Noncycloplegic and cycloplegic autorefractions of the right eye were performed on the same day.
- Logistic regression models assessed factors associated with substantial differences in spherical equivalent (SE) and cylinder.
Main Results:
- Noncycloplegic SE was, on average, 0.65 ± 1.04 D more myopic than cycloplegic SE.
- 25.9% of participants showed at least 1.00 D more myopic SE without cycloplegia, more common in those younger than 10 years and Hispanic individuals.
- 5.1% had ≥0.75 D cylindrical difference, more likely in younger children, males, and those with myopia or hyperopia.
Conclusions:
- Most school-aged children (75%) had less than 1.00 D difference in SE between noncycloplegic and cycloplegic autorefraction.
- Understanding these measurement variations and influencing factors is vital for research and clinical practice in pediatric eye care.
