Age variations in intraocular pressure in a cohort of healthy Austrian school children

PURPOSE: Limited data exist detailing the normal range of intraocular pressure (IOP) for healthy school age children. This study aims to describe the mean and normal range of IOP measurements that may be expected using the Icare rebound tonometer and to examine associations between visual function measures and IOP. METHODS: Six measurements of IOP from each eye were obtained from 211 normal children aged 6–15 years (79 females and 132 males) using the Icare tonometer. Other measures of visual function obtained included: visual acuity, non-cycloplegic retinoscopy, amplitude of accommodation, accommodative facility, and accommodative response. RESULTS: Statistical analysis (Mann–Whitney U test) demonstrated that the male subjects were more likely to have higher IOP measurements than the female subjects (mean IOP males 15.02 mm Hg (SD 2.19), mean IOP females 14.44 (SD 2.01) P=0.041). Analysis (Spearman's rho) showed a statistically significant association between age and IOP (right eye) in males (P<0.001) but no association for females (P=0.459). Using Spearman's rank analysis, statistically significant associations were found between IOP and amplitude of accommodation in males, for the whole data set (P=0.09) and for data up to age 11 (P<0.001). For females no statistically significant association was found for the whole data set (P=0.253) or for data up to age 11 (P=0.08). IOP was not significantly associated with visual acuity, refractive error, accommodative facility, or accommodative response. CONCLUSION: This study provides useful normative IOP data using the Icare tonometer for a European cohort of school age children

A survey of visual function in an Austrian population of school-age children with reading and writing difficulties

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To describe and compare visual function measures of two groups of school age children (6-14 years of age) attending a specialist eyecare practice in Austria; one group referred to the practice from educational assessment centres diagnosed with reading and writing difficulties and the other, a clinical age-matched control group.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Retrospective clinical data from one group of subjects with reading difficulties (n = 825) and a clinical control group of subjects (n = 328) were examined.</p> <p>Statistical analysis was performed to determine whether any differences existed between visual function measures from each group (refractive error, visual acuity, binocular status, accommodative function and reading speed and accuracy).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Statistical analysis using one way ANOVA demonstrated no differences between the two groups in terms of refractive error and the size or direction of heterophoria at distance (p > 0.05). Using predominately one way ANOVA and chi-square analyses, those subjects in the referred group were statistically more likely to have poorer distance visual acuity, an exophoric deviation at near, a lower amplitude of accommodation, reduced accommodative facility, reduced vergence facility, a reduced near point of convergence, a lower AC/A ratio and a slower reading speed than those in the clinical control group (p < 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study highlights the high proportions of visual function anomalies in a group of children with reading difficulties in an Austrian population. It confirms the importance of a full assessment of binocular visual status in order to detect and remedy these deficits in order to prevent the visual problems continuing to impact upon educational development.</p