Percentile curves of refractive errors in a Spanish paediatric population

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pediatric Optometry
• Refractive Error Research

Background:

• Refractive errors are a significant concern in pediatric populations.
• Establishing normative data is crucial for early detection and intervention.
• Previous studies have not provided detailed percentile curves for Spanish children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish normative percentile curves for refractive errors in Spanish children aged 3 to 12 years.
• To provide a benchmark for identifying refractive anomalies in pediatric patients.
• To aid eyecare professionals in early detection of myopia and other refractive errors.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted.
• 688 children aged 3-12 years without ocular or systemic diseases were recruited from Madrid.
• Refractive error was measured using an autorefractometer, and percentile curves were calculated using SPSS.

Main Results:

• Spherical equivalent values began to show myopia (SE < -0.50 D) at age 3 in the 50th percentile.
• The 75th percentile curve also indicated myopia by age 4.
• Refractive error became increasingly myopic with age, with the 90th percentile showing myopia at 11 years.

Conclusions:

• The study provides the first percentile curves for refractive errors in a Spanish pediatric population.
• These curves serve as a valuable tool for eyecare professionals.
• Early detection of refractive errors, particularly myopia, is facilitated by these normative data.