Ophthalmological findings in a sample of Swedish children aged 4–15 years

AIMS: To characterize ophthalmological findings in a sample of Swedish children aged 4-15 years. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional comprehensive ophthalmological investigation was performed on a sample of 143 children (67 girls, 76 boys) aged 4-15 years. RESULTS: Visual acuity (VA) in the better eye >or=1.0 (0.3 logMAR). Amblyopia was found in 0.7% of subjects. A total of 68% of the children had no refractive errors. Hyperopia (>or=2.0 dioptres D in spherical equivalent SE) was found in 9% and myopia (>or=0.5 D SE) in 6% of children. Astigmatism (>or=0.75 D) was recorded in 22% and anisometropia (>or=1.0 D SE) in 3%. A total of 8% were optically corrected. Strabismus was recorded in 3.5%. Signs of visuoperceptual problems were reported in 3% of the children. CONCLUSION: This sample of Swedish children may serve as a comparison group regarding ophthalmological findings in children aged 4-15 years.