Ocular dimensions in relation to auxological data in a sample of Swedish children aged 4-15 years

• PurposeThe purpose was to characterize normal growth patterns of ocular and optical components and to relate them to auxological data in a sample of Swedish children aged 4-15years. MethodsA prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in 143 Swedish children with a mean age of 9.8years. Variables including gestational age (GA), weight, length and head circumference (HCF) at birth and at the time of assessment were registered. Visual acuity (VA), cycloplegic refraction and biometric measures were obtained. Palpebral fissure length and inner canthal distance were measured. Optic disc morphology as seen on fundus photographs was analysed. ResultsChildren born more mature, with male predilection, were found to have deeper anterior and vitreous chamber depths, longer axial lengths and thinner crystalline lens thickness. No correlations were found between ocular biometric measurements and VA or refraction after adjustment for confounding variables. Inner canthal distance was significantly correlated with birth length (p=0.03), height, weight, BMI and HCF (p=0.0008, p=0.0007, p=0.037, and p=0.04, respectively) at time of assessment. Total axial length was found to be significantly correlated with GA (p=0.0226) and length at assessment in girls (p=0.0084). Right optic disc and rim areas decreased with increasing age (p=0.0078 and p=0.0107, respectively); however, optic disc parameters were not dependent on any other variable. ConclusionThese normative values may serve as a basis for the ocular findings and their relationship to auxological data in Caucasian children aged 4-15years, as well as for future comparison in patients with paediatric ocular pathologies.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Oftalmologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Ophthalmology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

auxological data

biometric measures

birth weight

comparison group

gestational age

ocular

SINGAPORE CHINESE CHILDREN

FIBER LAYER THICKNESS

TANJONG-PAGAR SURVEY

AXIAL LENGTH

OPTIC-NERVE

AUSTRALIAN CHILDREN

REFRACTIVE ERROR

VISUAL-ACUITY

NORMAL VALUES

PARAMETERS

Ophthalmology

Swedish

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)