RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Astigmatism in Chinese preschool children: prevalence, change, and effect on refractive development JF British Journal of Ophthalmology JO Br J Ophthalmol FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. SP 938 OP 941 DO 10.1136/bjo.2003.030338 VO 88 IS 7 A1 Fan, D S P A1 Rao, S K A1 Cheung, E Y Y A1 Islam, M A1 Chew, S A1 Lam, D S C YR 2004 UL http://bjo.bmj.com/content/88/7/938.abstract AB Aim: To study the prevalence, type, and progression of astigmatism in Chinese preschool children, and its effect on refractive development. Methods: A cross sectional study of preschool children was carried out in two randomly selected kindergartens. A cohort study was performed on a subset of children, five years after initial examination. Refractive error (measured by cycloplegic autorefraction) and axial ocular dimensions (measured by ultrasonography) were the main study outcomes. Results: 522 children participated in the study; the mean age was 55.7 months (SD 10.9; range 27 to 77). Mean cylinder reading was −0.65 D (SD 0.58; range 0.00 to −4.75), and with the rule astigmatism was predominant (53%). In the 108 children studied longitudinally, the mean cylinder reading reduced from −0.62 D to −0.50 D (p = 0.019). The presence of astigmatism in initial examination predisposed the eyes towards greater myopisation (p<0.001). In addition, children with increased astigmatism had greater myopic progression (p<0.001) and axial length growth (p = 0.002). Conclusions: This study reports a high prevalence of astigmatism in Chinese preschool children. The presence of astigmatism, and particularly with increasing astigmatism, appears to predispose the children to progressive myopia. Further studies are warranted.