Prescribing eyeglass correction for astigmatism in infancy and early childhood: a survey of AAPOS members.
OBJECTIVE
To determine prescribing practices of pediatric ophthalmologists for astigmatism and astigmatic anisometropia in infants and young children.


METHODS
A survey was sent to the 700 North American AAPOS members listed in the 2004 web site directory.


RESULTS
A total of 412/700 surveys (59%) were returned. The level of astigmatism at which pediatric ophthalmologists prescribe eyeglasses for astigmatism varies considerably across the age range from birth to 3 years. The level at which 50% would prescribe glasses was > or =4.00 D from 0 to <6 months and decreased to > or =2.00 D by 2 to <3 years. Furthermore, one-fifth indicated that they would not prescribe eyeglasses for astigmatism in infants <6 months of age. Prescribing practices for astigmatic anisometropia were slightly less variable across age, with 50% of respondents indicating that they would prescribe eyeglasses for astigmatic anisometropia > or =3.00 D from 0 to <6 months, decreasing to > or =1.50 D by 2 to <3 years.


CONCLUSIONS
The American Academy of Ophthalmology Preferred Practice Patterns guidelines accurately reflect prescribing practices of pediatric ophthalmologists for 1- and 2-year-old children for bilateral astigmatism and astigmatic anisometropia. However, the AAO guidelines do not accurately reflect the prescribing practices for children in the 0 to <1-year age range. For children 0 to <6 months of age, pediatric ophthalmologists indicate that they typically require a higher amount of astigmatism or astigmatic anisometropia than that recommended by the AAO guidelines, or they do not prescribe glasses at all.
Harvey
Erin M
EM
Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of Arizona, 655 N. Alvernon, Tucson, AZ 85711, USA. e.harvey@u.arizona.edu
Miller
Joseph M
JM
Dobson
Velma
V
Clifford
Candice E
CE
D000047:Academies and Institutes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D032802:Committee Membership; D005139:Eyeglasses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009656:North America; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055656:Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology