Prevalence of eye disorders in young children with eyestrain complaints.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether eyestrain symptoms predict eye conditions in 6-year-old children.


METHODS
Cross-sectional population-based study.


METHODS
Reports of eyestrain symptoms were sought in parental questionnaires; 1740 children (79% response) underwent eye examinations (visual acuity, cover testing, cycloplegic autorefraction, and fundus examination).


RESULTS
Eyestrain information was available for 1448 children; 220 (15.2%) reported eyestrain symptoms, including 60 (3.4%) who reported near work-associated headaches. Most children (82.3%) had a normal eye examination, while refractive errors, amblyopia, and strabismus were found in 15.0%, 3.6%, and 7.3%, respectively. Corresponding rates for children without eyestrain were 9.9%, 1.4%, and 1.8%, respectively. Moreover, 78.7% of children with refractive errors, 68% with amblyopia, and 58% with strabismus reported no eyestrain.


CONCLUSIONS
Most children complaining of eyestrain had a normal eye examination; whereas most children with refractive error, amblyopia, or strabismus were free of eyestrain, making this complaint a poor marker of eye conditions in young children.
Ip
Jenny M
JM
University of Sydney, Department of Ophthalmology (Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Hospital), Westmead Millennium Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Robaei
Dana
D
Rochtchina
Elena
E
Mitchell
Paul
P
D001248:Asthenopia / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014787:Vision Tests; D014792:Visual Acuity