Abstract
Purpose :
To investigate changes in the spherical equivalent (SE) refractive error and astigmatism in Korean children with longitudinal follow-up and to evaluate the effect of risk factors on changes in refractive error.
Methods :
This study is a retrospective case series. In total, 221 patients who first visited the ophthalmology department from 3 to 9 years of age and could be followed for at least 10 years were enrolled. The patients were divided into groups according to the initial degree of SE, initial degree of astigmatism, sex, and ocular alignment. Changes in SE and astigmatism were compared among the groups.
Results :
The patients were followed up for a mean of 11.19 ± 1.81 (range, 10–18) years. An overall negative shift in SE and increasing tendency in astigmatism during the follow-up period were noted (p < 0.001). Myopia group was more likely to have a significant negative shift in SE (p < 0.001). The low astigmatism group was more likely to have a significant increase in astigmatism (p < 0.001). Esotropia group showed significantly slower changes in SE and exotropia group was more likely to have a significant increase in astigmatism (p = 0.032, p = 0.022, respectively). There was no sex difference in changes in SE and astigmatism.
Conclusions :
Korean children showed a negative shift in SE and increasing tendency in astigmatism during childhood. Changes in SE may be influenced by the initial degree of SE. The initial degree of astigmatism and ocular alignment may influence changes in astigmatism.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.