May 2008
Volume 49, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2008
Prevalence of Refractive Errors Among Preschool Children in the Baltimore Pediatric Eye Disease Study
J. Katz; L. Giordano; D. S. Friedman; M. X. Repka; J. Ibironke; P. Hawse; J. M. Tielsch
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • J. Katz
    International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
    Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
  • L. Giordano
    Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
  • D. S. Friedman
    International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
    Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
  • M. X. Repka
    Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
  • J. Ibironke
    Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
  • P. Hawse
    Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
  • J. M. Tielsch
    International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
    Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  J. Katz, None; L. Giordano, None; D.S. Friedman, None; M.X. Repka, None; J. Ibironke, None; P. Hawse, None; J.M. Tielsch, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  NIH Grant EY-14483
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2008, Vol.49, 1549. doi:
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      J. Katz, L. Giordano, D. S. Friedman, M. X. Repka, J. Ibironke, P. Hawse, J. M. Tielsch; Prevalence of Refractive Errors Among Preschool Children in the Baltimore Pediatric Eye Disease Study. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2008;49(13):1549.

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Abstract

Purpose: : To determine the age-specific prevalence of refractive errors in White and African-American preschool age children.

Methods: : The Baltimore Pediatric Eye Disease Study is a population-based evaluation of the prevalence of ocular disorders in children age 6 through 71 months in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Among 4,132 children identified, 3,990 eligible children (97%) were enrolled and 2,546 children (62%) were examined. Cycloplegic autorefraction was attempted on all children using a handheld Nikon Retinomax K-Plus 2. An instrument-generated confidence level of 8, 9, or 10 was required for the measurement to be considered reliable. A maximum of three autorefraction attempts were made for each eye to achieve this confidence level. If a reliable autorefraction could not be obtained, a study-certified optometrist or ophthalmologist performed cycloplegic streak retinoscopy in a dim room with the child fixating at distance.

Results: : The mean right eye spherical equivalent was 1.49D (SD=1.23) in Whites and 0.71D (SD=1.35) in African Americans. Spherical equivalence did not decline with age. The prevalence of myopia of 1D or more in the eye with the lesser refractive error was 0.7% in Whites and 5.5% in African Americans. The prevalence of hyperopia of 3D or more was 8.9% in Whites and 4.4% in African Americans. A higher proportion of African Americans were emmetropic (>-1D to <+1D) than Whites (58% versus 36%). The prevalence of astigmatism was similar in Whites and African Americans. With-the-rule astigmatism of 1.5D or more in the eye with greater astigmatism (8.3% in Whites and 9.0% in African Americans) was more prevalent than oblique (0.7% in Whites and 1.0% in African Americans) or against-the-rule astigmatism (2.4% in Whites and 3.1% in African Americans).

Conclusions: : Refractive errors are not prevalent in this population of urban preschool children. Hyperopia was more common than myopia, especially among White children. Emmetropia did not increase with age.

Keywords: refractive error development • hyperopia • myopia 
© 2008, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc., all rights reserved. Permission to republish any abstract or part of an abstract in any form must be obtained in writing from the ARVO Office prior to publication.
Copyright © 2025 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
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