[Refraction in the 1st year of life and the development of astigmatism].

Retinoscopy was performed in 205 children under atropine cycloplegia during the first year of life. In 22% an astigmatism (minimum 1.0 D) was found with a small peak of incidence between the 31st and 40th week. In a follow-up study (45 children) the incidence and degree of astigmatism were found to increase slightly. During the first 3 years of life esotropic children developed an astigmatic anisometropia (minimum 1.0 D difference in the astigmatism of the two eyes) more frequently the non-esotropic children. The hypothesis that astigmatic anisometropia is produced by visual deprivation in esotropic individuals is discussed.