Longitudinal Changes in Refractive Error in a Pediatric Referral Population in Korea

PURPOSE: To investigate changes in the spherical equivalent (SE) refractive error and astigmatism in a pediatric referral population in Korea with longitudinal follow-up and to evaluate the effect of risk factors on changes in refractive error. METHODS: This was a retrospective case series. In total, 221 patients who presented to a tertiary care hospital when aged 3 to 9 years and who underwent at least 10 years of follow-up were enrolled. The patients were divided into groups in terms of the initial extent of SE refractive error, the initial extent of astigmatism, sex, and ocular alignment. Changes in SE and astigmatism were compared among the groups. RESULTS: The patients were followed up for a mean of 11.19 ± 1.81 years. An overall negative shift in SE refractive error and increasing tendency in astigmatism during the follow-up period were noted. The negative shift in SE refractive error in the myopia group was significantly greater than those in the emmetropia and hyperopia groups. The change in astigmatism in the myopia group was significantly greater than that in the hyperopia group. The change in astigmatism in the low astigmatism group was significantly greater than those in the moderate and high astigmatism groups. Sex did not influence the changes in SE refractive error or astigmatism. CONCLUSIONS: A pediatric referral population in Korea showed a negative shift in SE refractive error and increasing tendency in astigmatism during childhood. Changes in refractive error may be influenced by the initial degree of SE refractive error and astigmatism. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2017;54(1):43-51.].