Prevalence of anisometropia and influencing factors among school-age children in Nantong, China: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of anisometropia and associated parameters among school-aged children in Nantong, China. Methods: This school-based, cross-sectional study examined students from primary schools, junior high schools, and senior high schools in an urban area of Nantong, China. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the specific correlations between anisometropia and related parameters. Non-cycloplegic autorefraction was assessed for each student. Anisometropia was defined as the spherical equivalent refraction (SE) difference ≥ 1.0 D between eyes. Results: A total of 9,501 participants were validated for analyses, of which 53.2% (n = 5,054) were male, and 46.8% (n = 4,447) were female. The mean of age was 13.32 ± 3.49 years, ranging from 7-19 years. The overall prevalence of anisometropia was 25.6%. Factors such as myopia, scoliosis screening positive, hyperopia, female sex, older age, and higher weight had a significantly higher risk of anisometropia (p < 0.05). Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of anisometropia in school-age children. Some physical examination parameters are closely related to children's anisometropia, especially myopia and scoliosis. Preventing myopia and controlling its progression may be the most important ways to reduce the prevalence of anisometropia. Correcting scoliosis may be an important factor in controlling the prevalence of anisometropia, and maintaining good reading and writing posture may be helpful in controlling the prevalence of anisometropia.

Changes of Choroidal Thickness in Children after Short-erm Application of 1% Atropine Gel.

INTRODUCTION: To assess changes of choroidal thickness (ChT) after administration of 1% atropine for 1 week in myopia, emmetropia, and hyperopia children. METHODS: A total of 235 children aged 4-8 years, which included 46 myopia, 34 emmetropia, and 155 hyperopia patients were recruited and divided into three groups according to the spherical equivalent with the use of 1% atropine twice a day for 1 week. The ChT was measured at baseline and 1 week. RESULTS: In the myopia and emmetropia groups, following administration of 1% atropine gel, the ChT thickened significantly under the fovea (i.e., from 278.29 ± 53.01 µm to 308.24 ± 57.3 µm, P < 0.05; from 336.10 ± 78.60 µm to 353.46 ± 70.22 µm, P < 0.05, respectively) and at all intervals from the fovea, while in the hyperopia group, there was no significant difference in the ChT except the nasal side (P < 0.05) . CONCLUSION: Topical administration of 1% atropine gel for 1 week significantly increased the subfoveal and parafoveal ChT in children with myopia and emmetropia. Atropine did not increase the ChT in hyperopia children, except at the nasal side.