Research Article: Hyperopic reserve insufficiency and myopic pre-disposition in pre-school children aged 3–6 years: a large-scale cross-sectional survey
Abstract:
To estimate the prevalence of hyperopic reserve insufficiency (HRI) and examine its associated factors among pre-school children aged 3–6 years in Ganzhou, China.
This cross-sectional study included 3,360 pre-school children aged 3–6 years. All participants underwent cycloplegic autorefraction and axial length (AL) measurement. HRI was defined using age-specific spherical equivalent refraction (SER) thresholds. SER was also used to describe age-specific refractive status and to conduct a sensitivity analysis using the International Myopia Institute (IMI) pre-myopia criterion (?0.50 D < SER ? +0.75 D). Guardian-completed Questionnaires assessed paternal/maternal high myopia, outdoor time, near-work, and residence. Multivariable logistic regression was performed with HRI coded as 1 and sufficient hyperopic reserve coded as 0.
HRI was identified in 380 children (11.3%, 95% CI: 10.3–12.4%). Age-specific HRI prevalence increased from 4.1% (95% CI: 2.8–6.0%) at age 3 to 27.5% (95% CI: 23.9–31.5%) at age six. Mean SER declined from +2.35 ± 0.37 D at age 3 to +1.05 ± 0.54 D at age 6. IMI-defined pre-myopia was found in 179 (5.3%). In multivariable analysis, older age (OR = 1.86), longer AL (OR = 1.70), paternal (OR = 1.28) and maternal (OR = 1.31) high myopia, near-work (OR = 1.06), and urban residence (OR = 1.40) were associated with higher HRI odds. Male sex was protective (OR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.60–0.94). Outdoor time showed lower odds but was non-significant (OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.85–1.01). IMI sensitivity analysis showed consistent directions.
HRI was detectable in a notable proportion of pre-schoolers and was accompanied by an age-related decline in SER. HRI was associated with age, AL, parental myopia, residence, and early-life visual behaviors. Due to the cross-sectional design, findings are associational, not causal.
Introduction:
Childhood myopia is a major global public health challenge, and its prevalence is particularly high and still increasing in East Asia ( 1 , 2 ). Earlier onset of myopia is associated with a longer duration of progression and a greater lifetime risk of high myopia and sight-threatening complications, including retinal detachment, myopic maculopathy, and glaucoma ( 3 – 5 ). Therefore, identifying children who may already show unfavorable refractive trajectories before manifest myopia is clinically and public-health…
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