Cross Sectional Studies of Corneal and Astigmatic Characteristics of Children Between the Twenty‐fourth and Seventy‐second Months of Life

Keratometric and retinoscopic findings were obtained for 631 children between two and six years of age, and the frequency distribution of corneal power for its male and female components was determined. The mean corneal power was shown to be slightly higher in value than values reported for adults. The mean for females was greater than for males by an amount slightly larger than the difference reported for adult samples. The frequency distributions of the samples were normal. Both males and females from the second to the sixth year showed a trend of decreasing mean power as growth occurred with increasing age. The frequency of corneal astigmatism measured by the keratometer increased with increasing age.