Reliability of cycloplegic autorefractor measurements to determine spherical and astigmatic refractive errors in young children

Background: This paper mainly focuses on the reliability study of cycloplegic autorefractor measurements over other methods in young children. Material and Method In a prospective study, 200 school children aged 8 to 15 years were evaluated for refractive errors in a period of one year. Non-cycloplegic autorefraction, followed by cycloplegic conventional retinoscopy and cycloplegic autorefraction was performed. Cyclopentolate eye drops(1 %) are used for this purpose. Fundus examination was performed in all children to exclude any posterior segment pathology. Post-mydriatic assessment was performed after one week. Results Post-mydriatic test values are used as gold standard. There is a no significant difference between cycloplegic autorefractor spherical power, cylindrical power and axis measurements against Post mydriatic test values. The difference is statistically significant in case of non -cycloplegic autorefraction. Conclusion Autorefraction with cycloplegia can be substituted for the conventional cycloplegic retinoscopy for both spherical and astigmatic refractive errors in young children. Note: This study was conducted by first author at Department of Ophthalmology, Rangaraya Medical College, Kakinada, India in the year 2002-2003. Keywords: Autorefractor, Cycloplegic autorefraction, Non-cycloplegic autorefraction
Table of Contents Abstract Introduction Material and Methods Results Discussion Conclusion References Introduction Conventional cycloplegic retinoscopy is widely used method to determine the refractive errors in patients of all age [...]