Correlation between myopic ametropia and stereoacuity in school-aged children in Taiwan

• DOI: 10.1007/s10384-013-0231-2
• Publication Date: 2013-02-04T13:54:00Z
• Authors: Ju-Wen Yang; Tien-Yi Huang; Jiahn-Shing Lee; Ling Yeung; Yi-Fang Lin; Chi-Chin Sun
• Keywords: Anisometropia; Stereoscopic acuity; Astigmatism

To investigate the correlation between stereoacuity, as analyzed by the Titmus stereotest, and the severity of myopia, astigmatism and anisometropia in a school-aged population in Taiwan.Cycloplegic autorefraction, best corrected monocular visual acuity and stereoacuity were measured in 6- to 18-year-old school children. Children with amblyopia (best corrected visual acuity of <20/25) or strabismus were excluded from this study. The correlation between stereoacuity and the severity of myopia, astigmatism and anisometropia was analyzed by the Titmus stereotest.A total of 166 children (95 boys, 71 girls; mean age 10.75 years, range 6-18 years) with myopia or astigmatism were enrolled in the study. The mean spherical error was -2.22 ± 1.70 diopters (D) (range -0.25 to -9.50 D), and the mean astigmatism was -0.72 ± 0.89 (range 0 to -4.50) D. An anisometropia of >1.00 D and spherical anisometropia of >1.00 D were strongly associated with decreased stereoacuity on the Titmus stereotest (P < 0.001). Astigmatism was also correlated with the performance of stereopsis (P = 0.013).Anisometropia (>1.00 D), spherical anisometropia (>1.00 D), and astigmatism were associated with reduced stereoacuity in school-aged children.