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Longitudinal refractive errors over 36 months in Hispanic and Black children
Yi Pang1, Qiong Li2, Sandra S Block1
1Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago, Illinois.
Insights
Hispanic children showed higher astigmatism, while Black children exhibited greater anisometropia. This study highlights racial/ethnic differences in refractive error characteristics in pediatric populations.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Eye Care
- Refractive Error Research
Background:
- Refractive errors are common in children and can impact visual development.
- Understanding racial and ethnic variations in refractive error is crucial for targeted eye care interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the longitudinal changes in refractive errors over 36 months in Hispanic and Black children.
- To identify differences in refractive error characteristics between these two ethnic groups.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of children aged 2.4 to 15 years underwent annual cycloplegic refraction measurements.
- Spherical equivalent, astigmatism (cylinder, J0, J45), and anisometropia were analyzed using mixed-linear models over 36 months.
Main Results:
- Hispanic children had significantly higher astigmatism (cylinder, J0, J45) compared to Black children.
- Black children showed a higher prevalence and degree of anisometropia (≥1 D) than Hispanic children.
- Both groups experienced a significant decrease in spherical equivalent over 36 months, but astigmatism and anisometropia remained stable.
Conclusions:
- Significant racial/ethnic differences exist in astigmatism and anisometropia prevalence and characteristics among children.
- These findings underscore the importance of considering ethnicity in pediatric refractive error assessment and management.
Significance:
This study brings awareness of racial/ethnic difference of refractive error characteristics in clinics.
Purpose:
This study aimed to assess longitudinal change in refractive errors over a 36-month period in Hispanic and Black children.
Methods:
Children (2.4 to 15 years old) were studied. Cycloplegic refraction was measured annually. Spherical equivalent was calculated. Astigmatism was evaluated by magnitude of cylinder and power vector (J 0 and J 45 ). Absolute value of interocular spherical equivalent difference was used to calculate anisometropia. Mixed-linear model was used to analyze longitudinal annual change in spherical equivalent, cylinder, J 0 , and J 45 over 36 months.
Results:
A total of 485 participants (310 Black, 175 Hispanic) met the criteria. At the baseline examination, prevalence of myopia, emmetropia, and hyperopia was 39% (n = 187), 31% (n = 150), and 30% (n = 148), respectively. Spherical equivalent of Black children was not significantly different from that in Hispanic children (0.10 ± 2.92 vs. -0.37 ± 2.05 D, p=0.06); however, the Hispanic children had a significantly higher cylinder compared with Black children (Hispanic: 1.46 ± 1.57 D vs. Black: 0.92 ± 1.07 D; p<0.001). Both J 0 (p<0.001) and J 45 (p=0.01) were significantly different between two groups; the Hispanic children had more with-the-rule astigmatism and oblique astigmatism than the Black children. Prevalence of anisometropia (≥1 D) was higher in Black children (14%) compared with Hispanic children (5%, p=0.006). Over 36 months, spherical equivalent significantly decreased an average of 0.69 D (0.23 D/y, p<0.001) for both groups; neither astigmatism nor anisometropia changed significantly (p>0.05).
Conclusions:
Astigmatism in the Hispanic children was significantly higher than in Black children. However, the Black children had a higher prevalence and degree of anisometropia than the Hispanic children.
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