title: Development of spherical equivalent refraction in prematurely born children during the first 10 years of life: a population-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the development of refraction, expressed as spherical equivalents, in prematurely born children during the first 10 years of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retinoscopy in cycloplegia was performed at 6 months, 2.5 years, and 10 years of age in 198 prematurely born children from a previous population-based study on the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity. Spherical equivalents were calculated. Myopia was defined as a spherical equivalent of less than 0 diopters (D), clinically significant myopia at 10 years of age as -1 D or less, and moderate or high myopia as less than -3D. Hypermetropia greater than +3 D was regarded as significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences during the refractive development between the various subgroups of retinopathy of prematurity. Cryotreated eyes had a wider distribution of refractive errors. A multiple regression analysis revealed that the spherical equivalents at 2.5 years of age predicted clinically significant myopia (</=-1 D) at 10 years of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Retinoscopies at 6 months, 2.5 years, and 10 years of age show a similar course of spherical equivalent refractive development regardless of the stage of retinopathy of prematurity. Refraction at 6 months of age is an unreliable predictor, but the refraction at 2.5 years of age seems to be a better tool for identifying refractive errors that will remain at 10 years of age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. gerd.holmstrom@ogon.uu.se
authors.forename: Gerd E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Holmström
authors.forename: Eva K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Larsson
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003452:Cryosurgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D042262:Retinoscopy; D012307:Risk Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology