Changes of Refractive Errors and Optometric Values in Fourth Graders at an Urban Elementary School in Korea.

Han, Eun Ryung; Kang, Ji Eun; Jun, Roo Min; Choi, Kyu Ryong

doi:2007.48.8.1119

J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > Volume 48(8); 2007 > Article

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2007;48(8):1119-1125.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2007.48.8.1119-1125 Published online August 31, 2007.

Changes of Refractive Errors and Optometric Values in Fourth Graders at an Urban Elementary School in Korea.

Eun Ryung Han, Ji Eun Kang, Roo Min Jun, Kyu Ryong Choi

The Institute of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Department of Ophthalmology, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ckrey02@mm.ewha.ac.kr

도시 초등학교 4학년의 굴절 이상과 안 계측치 변화

한은령,강지은,전루민,최규룡

The Institute of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Department of Ophthalmology, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence: Kyu Ryong Choi, M.D.

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate changes in refractive errors and quantify optometric values in 4th graders at an urban elementary school in Korea. METHODS: A total of 188 school children (376 eyes) were assessed in a population-based, cross-sectional and longitudinal follow-up study between March and December 2003. Uncorrected visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity, corneal refractive power measured with auto keratometer (KR-8100, Topcon(R) Inc., Japan), axial length measured with A-scan ultrasound biometry (A/B-scan system 835, Humphrey(R) Inc., Dublin, CA), and cycloplegic refraction were evaluated on March and December, respectively. RESULTS: Mean visual acuity decreased from -0.15+/-0.29 LogMAR to -0.20+/-0.35 LogMAR and mean spherical equivalent (SE) showed myopic progression from -0.65+/-1.57 diopter (D) to -0.88+/-1.75D. The prevalence rate of myopia (< or =-0.50D SE) was increased from 44.1% to 50.3%, while that of hyperopia (> or =+1.00D SE) was decreased from 8.0% to 5.8%. Mean corneal refractive power changed from 43.21+/-1.29D to 43.35+/-1.31D, and mean axial length changed from 23.38+/-0.88 mm to 23.60+/-0.92 mm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We assessed the changes of refractive errors and quantified the optometric values in a population-based, longitudinal follow-up study. The results showed that the prevalence of myopia and the mean axial length increased during our study in urban elementary 4th graders in Korea.

Key Words: Optometric value;Refractive error;Myopia