A retrospective cohort study evaluates non-cycloplegic indicators for myopia screening in children, highlighting the predictive power of axial length and uncorrected visual acuity.
Key Points
Axial length emerged as a more reliable myopia screening indicator than both uncorrected visual acuity and spherical equivalent.
About 76.10% prevalence of myopia was predicted using uncorrected visual acuity and non-cycloplegic refraction, showcasing higher rates than cycloplegic testing.
The study included 8,492 children, of which 51.3% were boys, with mean ages indicating significant variability across preschoolers and school-aged children.
Integrating axial length into screening programs may enhance myopia prediction for preschoolers, suggesting the elimination of cycloplegic procedures for some age groups.