Name

Prévalence des erreurs réfractives dans une population d’enfants

Undetected refractive error (RE) in children can lead to irreversible vision loss. This study aimed to depict the prevalence of RE in French children using cycloplegic refraction.

Multicenter cross-sectionnal study conducted from 2015 to 2018 in French eye clinics including children with cycloplegic refraction and without associated ocular conditions. The following data were collected: age, gender, symptoms of eye strain, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and cycloplegic refraction. Refractive status was defined according to spherical equivalent (SE). The analysis included 48,163 children. The main outcome was the prevalence of REs in French children using cycloplegic refraction.

The mean age 7.75 (2-12 years old). Children with REs had symptoms of eye strain for 69%.  Prevalence of each RE was as follows: emmetropia (-0.50 < SE < +0.50; 14.85%), hyperopia (+0.50 SE +5; 58.54%), myopia (-6 SE -0.50; 15.16%), high myopia (SE < -6; 0.55%), high hyperopia (SE > +5; 3.64%), mixed astigmatism (7.25%). The prevalence of anisometropia (SE difference > 1.5) was 4.95%. The prevalence of functional amblyopia in children attending primary school (aged above 6 years) was 2.62%.

Few studies have investigated REs in children using cycloplegic refraction, which has been shown to be the gold standard for RE assessment. Moreover, we provide BCVA growth chart which is a valuable tool for pediatricians and general practitioners to detect children at risk of visual impairment.

REs are frequently found in French children and may remain undetected in the absence of symptoms of eye strain.