Objective To determine the age- and race-specific prevalence of amblyopia in Asian and non-Hispanic white children aged 30 to 72 months and of strabismus in children aged 6 to 72 months. Design Cross-sectional survey. Participants A population-based, multiethnic sample of children aged 6 to 72 months was identified in Los Angeles and Riverside counties in California to evaluate the prevalence of ocular conditions. Methods A comprehensive eye examination and in-clinic interview were conducted with 80% of eligible children. The examination included evaluation of ocular alignment, refractive error, and ocular structures in children aged 6 to 72 months, as well as a determination of optotype visual acuity (VA) in children aged 30 to 72 months. Main Outcome Measures The proportion of 6- to 72-month-old participants with strabismus and 30- to 72-month-olds with optotype VA deficits and amblyopia risk factors consistent with study definitions of amblyopia. Results Strabismus was found in 3.55% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.68–4.60) of Asian children and 3.24% (95% CI, 2.40–4.26) of non-Hispanic white children, with a higher prevalence with each subsequent older age category from 6 to 72 months in both racial/ethnic groups (P=0.0003 and 0.02, respectively). Amblyopia was detected in 1.81% (95% CI, 1.06–2.89) of Asian and non-Hispanic white children; the prevalence of amblyopia was higher for each subsequent older age category among non-Hispanic white children (P=0.01) but showed no significant trend among Asian children (P=0.30). Conclusions The prevalence of strabismus was similar in Asian and non-Hispanic white children and was found to be higher among older children from 6 to 72 months. The prevalence of amblyopia was the same in Asian and non-Hispanic white children; prevalence seemed to be higher among older non-Hispanic white children but was relatively stable by age in Asian children. These findings may help clinicians to better understand the patterns of strabismus and amblyopia and potentially inform planning for preschool vision screening programs.

No abstract

No abstract

Purpose To determine the age-, gender- and ethnicity-specific prevalence of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism in Non-Hispanic White (NHW) and Asian preschool children. Design Population-based cross-sectional study. Participants A population based sample of 1501 NHW children and 1507 Asian children aged 6-72 months from Los Angeles County and Riverside County, California. Methods Eligible children underwent an in-home and in-clinic interview and a comprehensive eye examination including cycloplegic auto-refraction from 100 census tracts. Main outcome measures The proportion of children with myopia (spherical equivalent (SE) <=−1.00 diopter (D)), hyperopia (SE >=+2.00) D and cylindrical refractive error >=1.50 D in the worse eye. The astigmatism type was defined as with-the-rule (WTR) (+cylinder axis 90° ± 15°) and against-the-rule (ATR) (+ cylinder axis 180° ± 15°); all other orientations were considered oblique (OBL). Results The prevalence of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism in NHW children was 1.20% (95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.76-1.89%), 25.65% (95% CI= 23.5-27.9%), and 6.33% (95% CI = 5.21-7.68%), respectively. The prevalence of WTR, ATR and OBL astigmatism in NHW children was 4.33%, 1.00% and 1.00% respectively. Prevalence was lower with older age groups for astigmatism (p=0.0002), but not for myopia or hyperopia (p=0.82 and p=0.31, respectively). In Asian children, the prevalence of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism was 3.98% (95% CI = 3.11-5.09%), 13.47% (95% CI= 11.8-15.3%) and 8.29% (95% CI=7.01-9.80%), respectively. The prevalence of WTR, ATR and OBL astigmatism was 6.50%, 0.80% and 1.00% respectively. The prevalence of hyperopia was higher in girls than boys (p=0.0002), but no significant differences were found for myopia and astigmatism. Conclusion Hyperopia was the most common refractive error in both Asian and NHW children. However, compared to NHW children, myopia was relatively more prevalent, and hyperopia less prevalent, in Asian children. The prevalence of astigmatism was highest in infants, and WTR astigmatism predominated at all ages. Myopia showed relatively stable prevalence across age groups, while hyperopia prevalence decreased after infancy and then increased again in older age groups; however, longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate refractive changes over time in individual children.