Correction of Low-Moderate Hyperopia Improves Accommodative Function for Some Hyperopic Children During Sustained Near Work

A survey of prescribing philosophy in childhood hyperopia among optometrists in Ghana

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Hyperopia is a common refractive error in young children and has the potential to affect their visual, educational and general development. Management of childhood hyperopia presents significant intra-and inter-professional differences partly because evidence-based guidelines to inform when and how to prescribe for hyperopia are insufficient.

PURPOSE

This study investigated the prescribing philosophy in childhood hyperopia among optometrists in Ghana and the challenges faced in managing childhood hyperopia.

METHODS

An online questionnaire was distributed to optometrists in Ghana to evaluate the prescribing philosophy in childhood hyperopia. The questionnaire assessed factors, which could influence prescribing patterns in participants including age, symptoms, emmetropisation, and magnitude of hyperopia in patients. Challenges encountered in the management of childhood hyperopia in children were also investigated.

RESULTS

Ninety-one optometrists responded to the questionnaire with the mean age of participants being 32.3 ± 5.6 years. Most participants (67,(74%)) surveyed reported using some clinical guidelines in the management of childhood hyperopic refractive errors. The magnitude of bilateral hyperopia that practitioners were willing to prescribe decreased with increasing age of the patient (p < 0.0001). Most participants preferred modification of the amount of bilateral hyperopia found during cycloplegic refraction and also indicated a preference for prescribing a lesser amount of astigmatism. Lack of instrumentation for paediatric assessment was the main challenge reported in the management of hyperopic refractive errors.

CONCLUSION

The spectacle prescribing philosophies in childhood hyperopia amongst optometrists in Ghana largely follow existing clinical guidelines, although, in some instances, there were mismatches between the existing guidelines and their preferred pattern. Regular continuing professional development, which highlights emerging evidence on prescribing in childhood hyperopia, would be desirable.

Retinoscopes: Past and present

BACKGROUND

Retinoscopy is arguably the most important method in the eye clinic for diagnosing and managing refractive errors. Advantages of retinoscopy include its non-invasive nature, ability to assess patients of all ages, and usefulness in patients with limited cooperation or communication skills.

AIM

To discuss the history of retinoscopes and examine current literature on the subject.

METHODS

A search was conducted on the PubMed and with the reference citation analysis (https://www.referencecitationanalysis.com) database using the term "Retinoscopy," with a range restricted to the last 10 years (2013-2023). The search string algorithm was: "Retinoscopy" (MeSH Terms) OR "Retinoscopy" (All Fields) OR "Retinoscopes" (All Fields) AND [(All Fields) AND 2013: 2023 (pdat)].

RESULTS

This systematic review included a total of 286 records. Publications reviewed iterations of the retinoscope into autorefractors, infrared photo retinoscope, television retinoscopy, and the Wifi enabled digital retinoscope.

CONCLUSION

The retinoscope has evolved significantly since its discovery, with a significant improvement in its diagnostic capabilities. While it has advantages such as non-invasiveness and broad applicability, limitations exist, and the need for skilled interpretation remains. With ongoing research, including the integration of artificial intelligence, retinoscopy is expected to continue advancing and playing a vital role in eye care.

Accommodative-vergence disorders in a paediatric ophthalmology clinical setting in Argentina

PURPOSE

To determine the frequency of potential non-strabismic accommodative-vergence anomalies (NSAVA) and investigate associations between NSAVA, refractive errors and age among children attending a paediatric ophthalmology clinic.

METHODS

This study included children and adolescents aged 5-19 years attending an ophthalmology clinic with at least two follow-up visits. At their first visit, children had a comprehensive ophthalmic examination, including refractive error measurement by cycloplegic autorefraction and spectacles were prescribed if necessary. At the second visit, children had an examination of best-corrected visual acuity, convergence and accommodation to identify potential NSAVA. The relationship between age, sex, heterophoria and refractive error and potential NSAVA was assessed by a multivariable logistic regression model.

RESULTS

A total of 384 children and adolescents were evaluated. Their mean age was 10.97 ± 3.07 years and 58.9% were females. Forty-two per cent of children failed the NSAVA tests and 34.1% had myopia (≤-0.50 D). Children who failed NSAVA tests self-reported a higher proportion of reading problems (73.7%) compared to those who passed the tests (26.3%; p < 0.001). Children with self-reported reading problems were more likely to have accommodative infacility (57.9%) compared with children without (42.1%; p < 0.001). Refractive error and age were not associated with failure in NSAVA tests (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

NSAVA was a frequent cause of vision problems found in a sample of children from an ophthalmology paediatric clinic. Thus, further research is necessary to understand the potential of public health policies to prevent, refer, diagnose and treat those conditions.

Hyperopia in schoolchildren: Investigating the impact on vision and determining appropriate methods for screening

INTRODUCTION

Hyperopia is associated with reduced vision and educational outcomes in schoolchildren. This study explored the impact of clinically significant hyperopia (≥+2.00 D) on visual function in schoolchildren and compared the ability of different screening tests (alone and in combination) to detect this level of hyperopia.

METHODS

Vision testing including monocular logMAR visual acuity (VA) measured to threshold (distance [DVA], near [NVA] and DVA through a plus lens [+2.50 D]), stereoacuity and cycloplegic autorefraction (tropicamide 1%) were undertaken on 263 schoolchildren (mean age: 11.76 years ± 3.38) in Queensland, Australia. Vision measures were compared between children with clinically significant hyperopia in at least one meridian (≥+2.00 D) and emmetropia/low hyperopia (>0.00 and <+2.00 D). Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis was performed to identify optimal pass/fail criteria for each test and the diagnostic accuracy of individual and combinations of tests.

RESULTS

Thirty-two children had clinically significant hyperopia and 225 had emmetropia/low hyperopia. DVA and NVA were worse (p < 0.01), while the difference in DVA through a plus lens was less in children with clinically significant hyperopia (p < 0.01). ROC analysis for individual tests resulted in areas under the curve (AUCs) ranging from 0.65 to 0.85. Combining screening tests revealed that failing one or more of the following tests was most effective for detecting hyperopia: DVA, NVA and difference in DVA through a plus lens, resulting in a sensitivity and specificity of 72% and 81%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Significant differences in visual function existed between schoolchildren with clinically significant hyperopia and emmetropia/low hyperopia. Combining measures of DVA and NVA and the difference in DVA through a plus lens demonstrated good discriminative ability for detecting clinically significant hyperopia in this population.

Accuracy and precision of automated subjective refraction in young hyperopes under cycloplegia

PURPOSE

To assess the agreement between the Eye Refract, an instrument to perform subjective automated refraction, and the traditional subjective refraction, as the gold standard, in young hyperopes under noncycloplegic and cycloplegic conditions.

METHODS

A cross-section and randomized study was carried out, involving 42 participants (18.2 ± 7.7 years, range 6 to 31 years). Only one eye was chosen for the analysis, randomly. An optometrist conducted the refraction with the Eye Refract, while another different optometrist conducted the traditional subjective refraction. Spherical equivalent (M), cylindrical components (J0 and J45), and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) were compared between both refraction methods under noncycloplegic and cycloplegic conditions. A Bland-Altman analysis was performed to assess the agreement (accuracy and precision) between both refraction methods.

RESULTS

Without cycloplegia, the Eye Refract showed significantly lower values of hyperopia than the traditional subjective refraction (p < 0.009), the mean difference (accuracy) and its 95% limits of agreement (precision) being -0.31 (+0.85, -1.47) D. Conversely, there were no statistical differences between both refraction methods under cycloplegic conditions (p ≥ 0.05). Regarding J0 and J45, both refraction methods manifested no significant differences between them under noncycloplegic and cycloplegic conditions (p ≥ 0.05). Finally, the Eye Refract significantly improved CDVA (0.04 ± 0.01 logMAR) compared with the traditional subjective refraction without cycloplegia (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The Eye Refract is presented as a useful instrument to determine the refractive error in young hyperopes, the use of cycloplegia being necessary to obtain accurate and precise spherical refraction.

Accuracy and stability of accommodation and vergence responses during sustained near tasks in uncorrected hyperopes

This study investigated the accuracy and stability of accommodative and vergence functions in children with and without hyperopia while engaged in two sustained near tasks. The sustained accommodative and vergence characteristics of participants without refractive correction (n = 92, aged 5-10 years) with and without hyperopia (defined as cycloplegic retinoscopy ≥  + 1.00D and less than + 5.00D) were measured using eccentric infrared photorefraction (PowerRef 3; PlusOptix, Germany). Binocular measures of accommodation and eye position were recorded while participants engaged in 2 tasks at 25 cm for 15 min each: (1) reading small print on an Amazon Kindle and (2) watching an animated movie on liquid crystal display screen. Comprehensive visual assessment, including measurement of presenting visual acuity, amplitude of accommodation, and stereoacuity was conducted. The magnitude of accommodative and vergence responses was not related to refractive error (P > 0.05). However, there were inter-task differences in the accuracy and stability of the accommodative responses across refractive groups (P < 0.05). The relationship between accommodation and vergence was not significant in both tasks (P > 0.05). However, increased accommodative and vergence instabilities were associated with total accommodative response (P < 0.05). Despite having greater accommodative demand, uncorrected hyperopes accommodate comparably to emmetropic controls. However, uncorrected hyperopes have increased instabilities in their accommodative and vergence responses, which may adversely impact their visual experience.

Prescribing patterns for paediatric hyperopia among paediatric eye care providers

PURPOSE

To survey paediatric eye care providers to identify current patterns of prescribing for hyperopia.

METHODS

Paediatric eye care providers were invited, via email, to participate in a survey to evaluate current age-based refractive error prescribing practices. Questions were designed to determine which factors may influence the survey participant's prescribing pattern (e.g., patient's age, magnitude of hyperopia, patient's symptoms, heterophoria and stereopsis) and if the providers were to prescribe, how much hyperopic correction would they prescribe (e.g., full or partial prescription). The response distributions by profession (optometry and ophthalmology) were compared using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov cumulative distribution function test.

RESULTS

Responses were submitted by 738 participants regarding how they prescribe for their hyperopic patients. Most providers within each profession considered similar clinical factors when prescribing. The percentages of optometrists and ophthalmologists who reported considering the factor often differed significantly. Factors considered similarly by both optometrists and ophthalmologists were the presence of symptoms (98.0%, p = 0.14), presence of astigmatism and/or anisometropia (97.5%, p = 0.06) and the possibility of teasing (8.3%, p = 0.49). A wide range of prescribing was observed within each profession, with some providers reporting that they would prescribe for low levels of hyperopia while others reported that they would never prescribe. When prescribing for bilateral hyperopia in children with age-normal visual acuity and no manifest deviation or symptoms, the threshold for prescribing decreased with age for both professions, with ophthalmologists typically prescribing 1.5-2 D less than optometrists. The threshold for prescribing also decreased for both optometrists and ophthalmologists when children had associated clinical factors (e.g., esophoria or reduced near visual function). Optometrists and ophthalmologists most commonly prescribed based on cycloplegic refraction, although optometrists most commonly prescribed based on both the manifest and cycloplegic refraction for children ≥7 years.

CONCLUSION

Prescribing patterns for paediatric hyperopia vary significantly among eye care providers.

Prevalence of vision conditions in children in a very remote Australian community

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Understanding the prevalence of vision conditions in a population is critical for determining the most appropriate strategies for detecting and correcting eye conditions in a community. This is particularly important in very remote regions where access to vision testing services is limited.

BACKGROUND

Although recent studies have provided detailed analyses of the prevalence of vision conditions in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children in urban and regional areas of Australia, there is a paucity of research examining vision conditions in children in remote regions. Importantly, a significant proportion of the population in remote and very remote regions identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

METHODS

Comprehensive eye examinations were provided to 193 primary school children in a very remote Australian region. Ninety eight percent of children identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. The eye examination included measures of visual acuity, cycloplegic autorefraction, binocular vision and accommodative function, ocular health and colour vision. Previous history of eye examinations and refractive correction were assessed through parental questionnaire.

RESULTS

Although the average unaided vision in the population was good (mean: 0.02 ± 0.13 logMAR) and the prevalence of reduced unaided visual acuity (>0.3 logMAR in either eye) was low (4%), vision conditions were detected in 32% of children. The most common conditions were clinically significant refractive errors (18% of children) and binocular vision or accommodative disorders (16%). Of the total population of children tested, 10% had previously had an eye examination, and 2% were reported to have previously been prescribed spectacles.

CONCLUSIONS

In this population of children in a very remote Australian region, up to 1 in 3 children had a vision condition, with many of these conditions being uncorrected and undetected. These findings highlight the important need for additional resources to be made available to very remote communities for the detection and correction of vision conditions in childhood.

The Evolution and the Impact of Refractive Errors on Academic Performance: A Pilot Study of Portuguese School-Aged Children

The relationship between vision and academic performance has been discussed for a long time, with special emphasis on visual factors associated with learning problems. The objective of this pilot study is to obtain an initial idea about the evolution and the impact of refractive errors on school-aged children. A visual examination was performed on 252 children between the ages of 6 and 11 years, which consisted of objective refraction, subjective refraction, and accommodative and binocular tests. No significant differences were observed regarding the refractive state when taking academic performance into account (p > 0.05). However, it was determined that academic performance was better among children with a negative spherical equivalent. Studies with a larger sample size must be conducted to verify the results that were attained in this present pilot study, and these must likewise look at possible ways in which strategies can be implemented in schools to reduce myopia progression.

Changes in Refractive Error Under COVID-19: A 3-Year Follow-up Study

INTRODUCTION

To investigate changes in refractive error in schoolchildren before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

METHODS

This study included 2792 students, who underwent a 3-year follow-up from 2018 to 2020. All participants underwent yearly noncycloplegic refraction and ocular examinations. Time-related changes in sphere, cylinder, and spherical equivalent (SE) measurements in both genders were analyzed.

RESULTS

The myopic sphere (- 0.78 ± 1.83 vs. - 1.03 ± 1.91 D; P = 0.025) and SE (- 1.04 ± 1.90 vs. - 1.32 ± 1.99 D; P = 0.015) progressed significantly from 2018 to 2019. Female participants had a significantly greater change in SE than male participants (P < 0.05), and the low hyperopia, emmetropia, and mild myopia groups significantly deteriorated (P < 0.001) from 2018 to 2019. Significant differences in sphere change (- 0.21 ± 0.97 vs. - 0.36 ± 0.96 D; P < 0.001) and SE change (- 0.23 ± 0.99 vs. - 0.38 ± 0.98 D; P < 0.001) were noted between 2019-2018 and 2020-2019, respectively. The respective changes in cylinder were statistically similar (- 0.03 ± 0.53 vs. - 0.05 ± 0.62 D; P = 0.400).

CONCLUSIONS

The refractive status of schoolchildren showed an increasing myopic shift trend before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The low hyperopia, emmetropia, and mild myopia groups were more sensitive to environmental changes during COVID-19 than before. The myopic shift was greater in female participants than male participants.

The Impact of Hyperopia on Academic Performance Among Children: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

To assess the impact of uncorrected hyperopia and hyperopic spectacle correction on children's academic performance.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

We searched 9 electronic databases from inception to July 26, 2021, for studies assessing associations between hyperopia and academic performance. There were no restrictions on language, publication date, or geographic location. A quality checklist was applied. Random-effects models estimated pooled effect size as a standardized mean difference (SMD) in 4 outcome domains: cognitive skills, educational performance, reading skills, and reading speed. (PROSPERO registration: CRD-42021268972).

RESULTS

Twenty-five studies (21 observational and 4 interventional) out of 3415 met the inclusion criteria. No full-scale randomized trials were identified. Meta-analyses of the 5 studies revealed a small but significant adverse effect on educational performance in uncorrected hyperopic compared to emmetropic children {SMD -0.18 [95% confidence interval (CI), -0.27 to -0.09]; P < 0.001, 4 studies} and a moderate negative effect on reading skills in uncorrected hyperopic compared to emmetropic children [SMD -0.46 (95% CI, -0.90 to -0.03); P = 0.036, 3 studies]. Reading skills were significantly worse in hyperopic than myopic children [SMD -0.29 (95% CI, -0.43 to -0.15); P < 0.001, 1 study]. Qualitative analysis on 10 (52.6%) of 19 studies excluded from meta-analysis found a significant (P < 0.05) association between uncorrected hyperopia and impaired academic performance. Two interventional studies found hyperopic spectacle correction significantly improved reading speed (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence indicates that uncorrected hyperopia is associated with poor academic performance. Given the limitations of current methodologies, further research is needed to evaluate the impact on academic performance of providing hyperopic correction.

Application and repeatability of ocular biometric measures for gaze position calibration in children

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the utility of two ocular biometric measurements to obtain Hirschberg ratios (HRs) in a binocularly normal paediatric population, and to assess the repeatability of this approach.

METHODS

Ocular biometry data from 80 participants (aged 5 to 14 years) was obtained using the KM-1 LED manual keratometer and the Tomey Biometer AL-100 A-scan. HRs were calculated from corneal curvature and anterior chamber depth measurements in the horizontal and vertical meridians of each eye using a regression equation based on a geometric optics model. To assess intrasubject variability in the HRs obtained from biometry, measurements were repeated approximately 1 h later.

RESULTS

At the initial measurement, mean (SD, range) HRs were 10.77 (0.79, 9.14-12.73) and 11.02 (0.82, 9.48-13.32) °/mm for the horizontal and vertical meridians, respectively. There was a significant difference between the horizontal and vertical HRs (p < 0.0001). Mean intrasubject variability of HR was 0.06 °/mm (95% Limit of Agreement [LOA]: -0.82 to 0.94 °/mm), and 0.05 °/mm (95% LOA: -1.05 to 1.15 °/mm) for the horizontal and vertical meridians, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The results indicated that HRs obtained through ocular biometry in a binocularly normal paediatric population are consistent with previous studies in both strabismic children and adult cohorts. The HRs obtained with this technique were highly repeatable in this study population. This approach to gaze position calibration could be used in lieu of other empirical techniques in children.