Central and peripheral refraction in children and young adults : a longitudinal study

• Main Author: Cagnolati, Bastian
• Published: Glasgow Caledonian University 2014
• Subjects: 617.7
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.636812

The development of refractive errors remains of scientific and clinical interest down to the present day. This applies in particular to myopia which at higher levels is associated with an increased risk of ocular disease. In urban areas of Asia the prevalence of myopia has increased over the last few decades such that numbers have reached epidemic proportions. Multidisciplinary research efforts on the aetiology of myopia are ongoing. Among those the role of the retinal periphery in myopia has seen renewed interest in the past decade. This thesis describes a 4-year longitudinal study of refractive development in children and young adults that aimed to investigate factors associated with refractive error progression, particularly the relationship of central refraction with peripheral refractive state and ocular shape. For this project 140 subjects between 5 and 20 years were recruited. Their history and activities were assessed using a questionnaire. Non-cycloplegic central and peripheral (250 temporal) refraction as well as accuracy of accommodation were determined with the Shin-Nippon NVision-K 5001 autorefractor. Ocular dimensions were quantified with the Zeiss IOLMaster. This included peripheral ocular length measurements (190 superior, inferior, temporal, nasal) to infer ocular shape. Additionally amplitude of accommodation, dissociated heterophoria, visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, body height and pupillary distance were also determined.