Korean J Ophthalmol.  2012 Dec;26(6):451-454. 10.3341/kjo.2012.26.6.451.

Refractive Errors and Strabismus in Down's Syndrome in Korea

• Han DH
• Kim KH
• Paik HJ

• KMID: 1499684
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2012.26.6.451

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aims of this study were to examine the distribution of refractive errors and clinical characteristics of strabismus in Korean patients with Down's syndrome.
METHODS
A total of 41 Korean patients with Down's syndrome were screened for strabismus and refractive errors in 2009.
RESULTS
A total of 41 patients with an average age of 11.9 years (range, 2 to 36 years) were screened. Eighteen patients (43.9%) had strabismus. Ten (23.4%) of 18 patients exhibited esotropia and the others had intermittent exotropia. The most frequently detected type of esotropia was acquired non-accommodative esotropia, and that of exotropia was the basic type. Fifteen patients (36.6%) had hypermetropia and 20 (48.8%) had myopia. The patients with esotropia had refractive errors of +4.89 diopters (D, +/-3.73) and the patients with exotropia had refractive errors of -0.31 D (+/-1.78). Six of ten patients with esotropia had an accommodation weakness. Twenty one patients (63.4%) had astigmatism. Eleven (28.6%) of 21 patients had anisometropia and six (14.6%) of those had clinically significant anisometropia.
CONCLUSIONS
In Korean patients with Down's syndrome, esotropia was more common than exotropia and hypermetropia more common than myopia. Especially, Down's syndrome patients with esotropia generally exhibit clinically significant hyperopic errors (>+3.00 D) and evidence of under-accommodation. Thus, hypermetropia and accommodation weakness could be possible factors in esotropia when it occurs in Down's syndrome patients. Based on the results of this study, eye examinations of Down's syndrome patients should routinely include a measure of accommodation at near distances, and bifocals should be considered for those with evidence of under-accommodation.

Keyword

Down syndrome; Korea; Refractive errors; Strabismus

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Child
Child, Preschool
Down Syndrome/*complications/epidemiology
Female
Humans
Incidence
Male
Prevalence
Refractive Errors/complications/*epidemiology
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Retrospective Studies
Strabismus/complications/*epidemiology
*Vision Screening
Young Adult

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