Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the changes in relative peripheral refractive error produced by two different designs of progressive soft contact lenses in myopic schoolchildren. Methods: Twenty-seven myopic schoolchildren age between 13 to 15 years were included in this study. The measurements of central and peripheral refraction were made using a Grand-Seiko WR-5100K open-field autorefractometer without correction (baseline), and two different designs of progressive contact lenses (PCLs) (Multistage from SEED & Proclear from Cooper Vision) with an addition power of +1.50 D. Refractive power was measured at center and at eccentricities between 35º temporal to 35º nasal visual field (in 5º steps). Results: Both PCLs showed a reduction in hyperopic defocus at periphery. However, this reduction was only significant for the Multistage PCL (p= 0.015), (Proclear PCL p= 0.830).  Conclusion: Multistage PCLs showed greater reduction in peripheral retinal hyperopic defocus among myopic schoolchildren in comparison to Proclear PCLs.

Uncorrected refractive error, especially myopia, in young children can cause permanent visual impairment in later life. However, data on the normative development of refractive error in this age group is limited, especially in Malaysia. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of refractive error in a sample of infants and young children between the ages of 6 to 36 months in a prospective, cross-sectional study. Cycloplegic retinoscopy was conducted on both eyes of 151 children of mean age 18.09 ± 7.95 months. Mean spherical equivalent refractive error for the right and left eyes was +0.85 ± 0.97D and +0.86 ± 0.98D, respectively. The highest prevalence of refractive error was astigmatism (26%), followed by hyperopia (12.7%), myopia (1.3%) and anisometropia (0.7%). There was a reduction of hyperopic refractive error with increasing age. Myopia was seen to emerge at age 24 months. In conclusion, the prevalence of astigmatism and hyperopia in infants and young children was high, but that of myopia and anisometropia was low. There was a significant reduction in hyperopic refractive error towards emmetropia with increasing age. It is recommended that vision screening be conducted early to correct significant refractive error that may cause disruption to clear vision.

Terdapat korelasi yang sederhana tetapi signifikan antara skor VF14 dan akuiti visual koreksi terbaik (r =-0.412, p < 0.01). Kesimpulannya, akuiti visual koreksi terbaik sahaja tidak boleh digunakan sebagai indikator untuk menjelaskan perubahan skor VF14. Kajian ini menunjukkan ia hanya menyumbang kepada 17.2% kepada perubahan skor VF14. Gabungan banyak faktor lain seperti faktor sosio demografik (bangsa, status pendidikan dan masalah kesihatan), sensitiviti kontras dan stereopsis perlu diambil kira apabila menilai fungsi visual yang diukur dengan VF14.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in the relative peripheral refractive error produced by soft single vision contact lenses in myopic schoolchildren. Methods: 27 myopic schoolchildren aged between 13 to 15 years were included in this study. The measurements of central and peripheral refraction were made only on the right eye using a Grand-Seiko WR-5100K open-field autorefractometer without contact lens (WL), and with wearing single vision contact lens (SVCL). Refractive power was measured at center and horizontal eccentricity between 35° temporal to 35° nasal visual field (in 5° steps). Results: SVCL showed an increase in peripheral hyperopic defocus at the nasal and temporal visual field compare with baseline, but this change was not statistically significant (p=0.129). Conclusion: Wearing single vision soft contact lenses increases the relative peripheral hyperopic defocus in myopic schoolchildren.