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Reduction of infant myopia: a longitudinal cycloplegic study
D L Ehrlich1, J Atkinson, O Braddick
1Department of Psychology, University College London, U.K.
Insights
Infant myopia shows significant emmetropization towards hyperopia by age three. Both myopic and control infants experienced reduced astigmatism, indicating natural visual development.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Developmental Optometry
Background:
- Infant refractive error development is crucial for visual health.
- Understanding emmetropization pathways in early childhood is key.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare refractive error changes in myopic and hyperopic infants.
- To investigate emmetropization and astigmatism reduction with age.
Main Methods:
- Cycloplegic retinoscopy was used to measure refraction in two infant groups (myopic and control).
- Refractive data were collected between 8.5 and 38.5 months of age.
- Spherical equivalent, astigmatism, and meridional powers were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Infant myopes demonstrated significant emmetropization towards low hyperopia by 3 years.
- No significant change in mean spherical equivalent was observed in the control group.
- Both groups showed significant age-related astigmatism reduction, affecting both meridians.
Conclusions:
- Infant eyes exhibit a natural tendency towards emmetropization, even in cases of myopia.
- Astigmatism decreases significantly with age in infants, regardless of initial refractive status.
Abstract:
Changes of cycloplegic retinoscopy refraction from 8.5 to 38.5 months of age were compared in two infant groups in the Cambridge population: "infant myopes", having at least one myopic axis (0 to -3.5 D inclusive), and a second, "control" group with low hyperopia (< or = +3.5 D). Cycloplegia eliminated the variable accommodation of infants. The myopic group showed a significant emmetropization of the mean spherical equivalent towards low hyperopia by 3 yr. There was no significant change in the control group's mean spherical equivalent power. Both groups showed a significant reduction in astigmatism with age. Analysis of the vertical and horizontal powers showed significant "emmetropization" of these meridians, in both groups, towards low hyperopia from 8.5 to 38.5 months. These meridional emmetropization changes were significant for both With-the-Rule and Against-the-Rule astigmatism.