Relative peripheral refraction in school children with different refractive errors using a novel multispectral...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology and Optometry
• Pediatric Eye Care
• Refractive Error Research

Background:

• Peripheral refraction (RPR) measurement is crucial for understanding refractive error progression.
• Multispectral refraction topography (MRT) offers a non-mydriatic method for RPR assessment.
• Variations in RPR may influence the development and management of myopia in children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare relative peripheral refraction (RPR) in Chinese school children across different refractive error groups.
• To investigate RPR using multispectral refraction topography (MRT) without pupil dilation.
• To analyze RPR differences in specific peripheral zones and their correlation with refractive error.

Main Methods:

• Analyzed 713 eyes from primary school children aged 10-13 years with emmetropia, low myopia, moderate myopia, and low hypermetropia.
• Measured RPR in 0-15°, 15°-30°, and 30°-45° annular zones across inferior, superior, nasal, and temporal quadrants using MRT.
• Determined spherical equivalent (SE) using an autorefractor.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in RPR (15°-30° and 30°-45° annular zones) were observed between moderate myopia and emmetropia/low myopia groups.
• RPR values increased from hyperopic to myopic groups across annular zones.
• Significant differences in superior and temporal RPR were found between myopic and emmetropic groups, with a negative correlation between RPR and SE.

Conclusions:

• Non-mydriatic RPR measurements reveal significant differences between myopic and emmetropic eyes in peripheral zones (15°-30°, 30°-45°, superior, temporal).
• These peripheral refraction differences are negatively correlated with spherical equivalent (SE).
• Findings underscore the utility of MRT for assessing peripheral refractive characteristics in pediatric populations without pupil dilation.