Major article
Stereoacuity and ocular associations at age 12 years: Findings from a population-based study

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Purpose

To report the distribution of stereoacuity thresholds and ocular characteristics associated with reduced stereoacuity in a representative sample of 12-year-old Australian children.

Methods

Stereoacuity thresholds were determined using the three quantitative plates of the TNO test in 2343 children, either unaided or with spectacles, if worn. Logarithm of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity was measured. Cycloplegic autorefraction (using cyclopentolate), cover testing, and dilated fundus examination were performed. Reduced stereoacuity was defined as > 120 arcsec. Myopia was defined as spherical equivalent refraction (SER) ≤ −0.50 D hyperopia as spherical equivalent refraction ≥ +2.0 D, anisometropia as spherical equivalent refraction difference between eyes ≥1.00 D, and astigmatism as cylinder ≥ 1.0 D.

Results

Stereoacuity was based on unaided visual acuity in 1975 children (84.3%) and on spectacle-corrected visual acuity in 368 children (15.7%); 87 children (3.7%) had reduced stereoacuity. Amblyopia was the most common identifiable cause, accounting for 32%, followed by strabismus (15%) and anisometropia (14%). Presence of anisometropia was significantly associated with reduced stereoacuity; 78.6% of anisometropic children achieved normal stereoacuity versus 98.9% without anisometropia (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Reduced stereoacuity was relatively uncommon in a population of 12-year-old Australian children. Its functional and psychosocial impact on individuals and on the whole population remains uncertain.

Section snippets

Population

This project is a population-based survey of refraction and other eye conditions in school children predominantly 12 years of age, resident in the metropolitan area of Sydney, Australia. It forms part of the Sydney Childhood Eye Study, which is examining childhood eye conditions across a range of ages.20, 21, 22, 23 Methods used to identify and select the target sample, as well as a description of study procedures, have been reported.24 In brief, all secondary schools in the study area were

Subjects

Of 3,144 eligible children, 2367 children were given parental permission to participate and questionnaire data were provided by the parents (response rate 75.3%). Of these 2,367 children, 14 were not examined as they were absent during the examination period. The mean age of participants was 12.7 years: 69.9% were aged 12 years and 25.6% were aged 13 years. The majority of the remainder were aged 11 years; 49.4% were girls. Basic data on the distribution of age and ethnicity for study

Discussion

To our knowledge, very few population-based studies have documented the prevalence of reduced stereopsis in representative samples of children. Williams et al reported stereoacuity findings on a representative childhood sample aged 7 years, living in Dunedin, New Zealand; these children were reexamined at ages 9 and 11 years.17 Defective stereopsis was defined as failure to pass any of the TNO qualitative plates and was found in 2.3% of the sample at age 11 years. Application of our criterion

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  • Cited by (0)

    The Sydney Myopia Study (Sydney Childhood Eye Study) is supported by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (Grant No. 253732), the Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney and the Vision Co-operative Research Centre.

    Proprietary Interest: None.

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