title: Astigmatism and the development of myopia in children.
abstract: While it is now established that astigmatism is more prevalent in infants and young children than in the adult population, little is known about the functional significance of this astigmatism, especially its role, if any, in emmetropization and the development of myopia. Manifest refractions (mean of 16 per subject) were obtained from 245 subjects starting in the first year, with 6-23 years of regular follow-up. Results showed that infantile astigmatism is associated with increased astigmatism and myopia during the school years. Two possible mechanisms underlying this association are discussed: (1) infantile astigmatism disrupts focusing mechanisms; and (2) ocular growth induces astigmatism and myopia.
authors.affiliation: Myopia Research Center, The New England College of Optometry, 424 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA. gwiazdaj@ne-optometry.edu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gwiazda
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grice
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Held
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McLellan
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Thorn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005123:Eye / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000209:etiology*; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology