Relationship between age, refractive errors and motor fusion in a normal Chinese adult population: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

To investigate the relationships between motor fusion and sex, age and spherical equivalent (SE).

METHODS

This observational study enrolled 243 healthy, nonstrabismic adults, including 94 men and 149 women aged 20 to 59 years. The subjects were divided into three groups according to SE: myopic, emmetropic and hyperopic groups. The subjects were also divided into four groups according to age: 20-29, 30-39, 40-49 and 50-59 years groups. Motor fusion was measured with a synoptophore, including subjective angle (SA), divergence, convergence and fusional vergence range (FVR).

RESULTS

The mean values of divergence, convergence and FVR for the whole sample group were 9.72 ± 0.26°, 19.34 ± 0.54°, and 29.06 ± 0.62°, respectively. A higher value of divergence was found in the myopic group than in the emmetropic group (p < 0.05). SE and divergence were significantly different among age groups (all p < 0.05). In addition, linear regression analysis showed that SE was correlated with divergence (p = 0.003). Age was correlated with SE, divergence and FVR (p < 0.001, p = 0.005, p = 0.002, respectively). In addition, the proportion of SA being in the comfort zone (defined as the value of SA satisfying Percival's criterion) in the age groups was significantly different (χ = 8.283, p = 0.041).

CONCLUSIONS

Motor fusion is associated with age and SE in the normal Chinese adult population.