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Changes in Refraction and Eye Size During Adolescence

With special reference to the influence of low birth weight

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Part of the book series: Documenta Ophthalmologica Proceedings Series ((DOPS,volume 28))

Abstract

Ophthalmic follow-up has been performed in 137 18-year-old Danes. Being part of a previous (larger) study on ophthalmic sequelae to low birth weight, 70 have a low birth weight (< 2000 g), while 67 are full-term controls.

Longitudinal data are given concerning three major items:

  1. (a)

    Changes in refraction from age of ten to 18 years,

  2. (b)

    Changes in eye size from age of ten to 18, and

  3. (c)

    The influence of low birth weight on ocular development.

The myopes show the most marked refractive change (up to 6.25 D, median value 1.75 D) during adolescence. The population norm of refractive change is estimated to be in the area 0.5–0.7 D.

There is a basic eye growth of 0.4–0.5 mm around puberty (at variance with previous statements by Sorsby et al.)

Low birth weight leaves (1) a (minor) group of pathological myopia (‘of prematurity’), and (2) a permanent LBW size deficit, also including eyes that otherwise appear and function as normal.

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References

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H. C. Fledelius P. H. Alsbirk E. Goldschmidt

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© 1981 Dr W. Junk Publishers, The Hague

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Fledelius, H.C. (1981). Changes in Refraction and Eye Size During Adolescence. In: Fledelius, H.C., Alsbirk, P.H., Goldschmidt, E. (eds) Third International Conference on Myopia Copenhagen, August 24–27, 1980. Documenta Ophthalmologica Proceedings Series, vol 28. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8662-6_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8662-6_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-009-8664-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-8662-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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