Longitudinal changes in the cylinder power of children with accommodative esotropia.

PURPOSE

To assess the longitudinal changes in the cylindrical refractive errors of children with accommodative esotropia according to the age when glasses were prescribed.

METHODS

Refractive errors were followed longitudinally for 120 children with accommodative esotropia for a mean of 4.4 +/- 2.5 years. Cycloplegic refractions were performed using an autorefractor. The refractive data were analyzed for three groups of children based on their age at the time spectacles were prescribed.

RESULTS

In all three age groups, the mean cylinder power was initially about 1.0 D. Over time, the mean cylinder power in the two younger age groups gradually increased by about 0.5 D. In the oldest age group, the mean cylinder power remained relatively unchanged with some suggestion of a decrease in the later years. A regression model demonstrated the statistical significance of both the age when spectacles were prescribed (p < 0.0001) and the interaction of age and time after spectacles were prescribed (p = 0.0034).

CONCLUSIONS

Longitudinal changes in cylinder power for children with accommodative esotropia vary according to their age when spectacle wear is initiated. The greatest increase in cylinder developed in the children who were youngest when initially treated.