Optic disk and retinal characteristics in myopic children.

PURPOSE: To examine the baseline retina and optic disk characteristics in children.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Subjects included 679 subjects with myopia and 100 with emmetropia, aged 8 to 13 years. Digital retina imaging and cycloplegic autorefraction were conducted to look for signs of retinal degeneration. Other outcome measures were vertical and horizontal cup-to-disk (CD) ratios, CD area ratio, parapapillary atrophy (PPA)-to-disk area ratio, and disk rotational angle.

RESULTS

The prevalence of lattice degeneration was 0.15% (95% confidence interval: 0.008-1.00). No other retinal abnormalities were detected. Increased PPA-to-disk area ratio was associated with increased axial length, increased myopia severity, and increasing age. Cup-to-disk ratios were smaller in subjects with myopia compared with those with emmetropia, but this did not correlate with severity of myopia. In subjects with severe myopia, the upper pole of the disk was rotated away from the fovea but to lesser extent than in those with emmetropia or milder myopia.

CONCLUSIONS

Apart from PPA, degenerative features were not commonly found in this study.