Distribution of the Axis of Astigmatism According to Age in Children

Song, Hyo Churl; Kwon, Jung Yoon

Abstract

We performed this study to investigate the distribution of axes of astigmatism, the occurrence and amount of astigma- tism among pediatric population aged from 1 to 15 years who have visited our clinic from January to December 1997. After routine ophthalmologic examination to rule out any organic abnormality, the cycloplegic refraction was performed with 0.5-1.0% atropine on 529 eyes. Out of 529 eyes, astigmatism was found in 356 eyes (67.3%) with the highest incidence in 15-year-old group being 87.0%. Among 356 eyes with astigma- tism, with-the-rule astigmatism was found in 322 eyes (90.4%); against-the-rule, 30 eyes (8.5%); oblique, 4 eyes (1.1%). With-the-rule astigmatism occurred far more frequently found than against-the-rule in all age groups. As to the type of astigmatism classified by the state of refractive errors,hyperopic astigmatism was found in 144 eyes (40.4%); myopic,136 eyes (38.3%); mixed, 76 eyes (21.3%). Of the total of 356 eyes with astigmatism, astigmatism of 1.0 diopter or less was found in 181 eyes (50.8%).