Abstract
Purpose :
To explore normative values of head size and investigate their correlations with interpupillary distance (IPD) in Hongkong preschool children.
Methods :
This was a cross-sectional, randomized study. 1028 Chinese children, aged 3 to 6 year old (542 males, mean age = 4.42 years ±0.96; 486 females, mean age = 4.38 years ±0.96), were recruited from 10 local kindergartens. Informed consent was obtained from all participants and their parents or legal guardians prior to data collection. Head circumference (HC), occipital length (OL), and ear-to-ear distance (EED), see Fig. 1, were measured by standard procedures with a non-stretchable anthropometric tape; as well as IPD was measured by digital pupilometer. SPSS software (version 26) was used for statistical analyses. Gender and age effect were tesed using t-test, and one-way ANOVA with significance level set at P<0.05, respectively.
Results :
Gender differences in HC, EED, OL and IPD were found. All parameters, except OL, increased with age, boys were generally larger than girls. IPD increased linearly with age, by about 1.1mm per year from 3 to 6 years old. Positive association between IPD and head size parameters was found, r=0.513, p<0.05.
Conclusions :
The study provides additional information of preschool children head growth in Chinese population that enhances studying of developmental anatomy or designing head-mounted devices. Significant IPD change or incorrect IPD measurement induces unwanted prismatic effect. Furthermore, the rapid change of HC and EED lead to unfit and discomfort of glasses. Frequent readjustment of frame and annual replacement of spectacles are recommended.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.