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Epidemiological Characteristics Associated with Astigmatism in a Population of 3- to 5-Year-Old Children in Los
J Ben Margines1, Connie Huang2, Andrew Young1
1Department of Ophthalmology, Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Insights
Astigmatism affects 11% of preschoolers, with higher prevalence in Latino children that doesn't decrease with age. Targeted screening is crucial, especially in Los Angeles Latino communities.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Optometry
- Public Health
Background:
- Astigmatism is a common refractive error affecting visual acuity.
- Early detection and management of astigmatism in children are crucial for visual development.
- Prevalence data in large preschool populations, particularly across diverse subgroups, are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of astigmatism in a large cohort of preschool children.
- To analyze astigmatism prevalence across different age, gender, and racial/ethnic groups.
- To identify specific subgroups with higher astigmatism rates requiring targeted interventions.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 79,330 preschoolers' vision screening data (2012-2017).
- Astigmatism defined as 1.50 D or more of cylinder; analyzed using Retinomax autorefractor.
- Statistical analyses included t-tests and chi-square tests, stratifying by age, race/ethnicity, and gender.
Main Results:
- Overall astigmatism prevalence was 11% (average cylinder 0.65 D), stable from ages 3-4 but decreasing from age 4-5.
- Latino children exhibited higher average cylinder power (0.68 D) and prevalence (12.3%), with no age-related decrease.
- Asian and African American females showed higher astigmatism than males; other gender differences were minimal.
Conclusions:
- Latino preschoolers in Los Angeles have a significantly higher, persistent rate of astigmatism.
- This highlights the need for school-based vision screening programs tailored to at-risk populations.
- Early identification and intervention are essential to prevent long-term visual impairment.
Purpose:
To characterize the prevalence of astigmatism among the heretofore largest published sample of preschool children and to do so among different age, gender, and racial and ethnic subgroups.
Methods:
This study included data from 79,330 preschoolers (49.0% female, 79.4% Latino, mean age 4.29 ± 0.66 years) who were screened using a Retinomax autorefractor between 2012 and 2017. Cylindrical power and astigmatism defined as 1.50 D or more of cylinder were the dependent variables. Children were stratified by age, race/ethnicity, and gender. T-test and chi-square analyses were performed.
Results:
The average cylinder of the sample was found to be 0.65 ± 0.78 D and 11% of the children were astigmatic. Among all children, these values remain stable from age 3 (0.66 ± 0.76 D, 11.2%) to age 4 (0.66 ± 0.79 D, 11.4%, p = .53), but they decrease significantly from age 4 to age 5 (0.61 ± 0.80 D, 10.%, p < .01). Latinos have the highest average cylinder power and prevalence of astigmatism at 0.68 ± 0.82 D and 12.3%, and unlike most other race/ethnic subgroups, they do not experience an age-dependent decrease in astigmatism. While female and male students have equivalent cylindrical refractions broadly, Asian and African American females have higher levels of astigmatism than their male counterparts.
Conclusion:
The data further demonstrate that Latino children in Los Angeles have significantly higher rates of astigmatism, which does not decrease during preschool years. These results emphasize the need for comprehensive school-based screening, especially among Latino enclaves in Los Angeles.
