Stereopsis Assessment in a Pediatric Population and Its Association With Refractive Error: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pediatric Optometry
• Binocular Vision Research

Background:

• Stereopsis, the perception of depth from binocular vision, is vital for children's motor skills and visual function.
• Refractive errors like myopia, astigmatism, and hypermetropia can impair binocular function and lead to reduced stereopsis.
• Subnormal stereoacuity can negatively impact a child's quality of vision and performance in visually demanding tasks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate stereoacuity levels in children diagnosed with refractive errors.
• To determine the prevalence and patterns of subnormal stereopsis within the pediatric population presenting with refractive errors.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 120 children (aged 5-17) with refractive errors was conducted.
• Participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examinations and stereoacuity assessment using the Randot stereotest.
• Data analysis involved comparing stereoacuity across different refractive error types (myopia, astigmatism, hypermetropia) and anisometropia, using statistical tests with a significance level of p < 0.05.

Main Results:

• The mean stereoacuity was 54.01 ± 32.19 arc seconds, with 15.83% of children exhibiting anisometropia.
• Hyperopic children showed significantly poorer stereoacuity (27.27% with moderate-to-poor stereopsis) compared to myopic (3.18% subnormal) and astigmatic children.
• Anisometropia was significantly associated with reduced stereoacuity compared to isometropia (p = 0.02).

Conclusions:

• Hypermetropia is linked to diminished stereoacuity in children, more so than myopia.
• Anisometropia negatively impacts stereopsis, highlighting the importance of binocular assessment in refractive error management.
• Routine stereopsis screening in pediatric eye exams is recommended to ensure optimal visual development and prevent binocular vision impairments.