Age at strabismus diagnosis in an incidence cohort of children.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the age at diagnosis of children with esotropia, exotropia, and hypertropia.


METHODS
Retrospective, population-based cohort study.


METHODS
The medical records of all Olmsted County, Minnesota, residents < 19 years diagnosed with esotropia, exotropia, or hypertropia from January 1, 1985 through December 31, 1994 were reviewed.


RESULTS
The median age at diagnosis of esotropia (n = 380), exotropia (n = 205), and hypertropia (n = 42) was 3.1 years, 7.2 years, and 6.1 years, respectively (P = .001). In the first six years of life, esotropia had the highest incidence and was more likely to occur than either exotropia or hypertropia; exotropia predominated between age seven and 12 years; and each form was similarly likely to occur between 13 and 18 years of age (P = .001).


CONCLUSIONS
The age at diagnosis was significantly different for the various forms of strabismus in this population. Esotropia is the most common form in the first six years of life; beyond this age exotropia predominates until the teenage years when the three forms have a similar but decreased incidence.
Mohney
Brian G
BG
Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. mohney@mayo.edu
Greenberg
Amy E
AE
Diehl
Nancy N
NN
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004948:Esotropia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005099:Exotropia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology