HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lee, K. E. Articles by Klein, R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lee, K. E. Articles by Klein, R.

Changes in Refractive Error over a 5-Year Interval in the Beaver Dam Eye Study

From the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison.

PURPOSE. To examine changes in spherical equivalent over a 5-year period in persons 43 to 84 years of age.

METHODS. All people 43 to 84 years of age and living in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, in 1988 were invited for a baseline examination (1988–1990) and a 5-year follow-up examination (1993–1995). Refractions were determined according to the same protocol at both examinations. Aphakic and pseudophakic eyes were excluded as well as eyes with best corrected Snellen visual acuity of 20/40 and worse. After exclusions, refraction was obtained on 3007 right eyes and 3012 left eyes of the 3684 people participating in both examinations.

RESULTS. Right and left eyes behaved similarly. Spherical equivalent became more positive in the youngest subjects and more negative in older subjects. After adjusting for other factors, the 5-year change in spherical equivalent of those 45, 55, 65, and 75 years of age was +0.15, +0.18, +0.10, and -0.07 D, respectively. Severity of nuclear sclerosis was related to the amount of change. Those with mild nuclear sclerosis at baseline had a change of +0.2 D, whereas those with severe nuclear sclerosis had a change of -0.5 D. The amount of change was also related to gender, diabetes, and age at onset of myopia. It was unrelated to education and baseline spherical equivalent.

CONCLUSIONS. Changes in spherical equivalent over a 5-year period were small. Before the age of 70, people became more hyperopic. After the age of 70, people became more myopic. Much of the myopic change may be related to increasing nuclear sclerosis.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Vitale, L. Ellwein, M. F. Cotch, F. L. Ferris III, and R. Sperduto Prevalence of Refractive Error in the United States, 1999-2004 Arch Ophthalmol, August 1, 2008; 126(8): 1111 - 1119. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Ip, S. C. Huynh, A. Kifley, K. A. Rose, I. G. Morgan, R. Varma, and P. Mitchell Variation of the Contribution from Axial Length and Other Oculometric Parameters to Refraction by Age and Ethnicity Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., October 1, 2007; 48(10): 4846 - 4853. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. P. Klein, P. Duggal, K. E. Lee, R. Klein, J. E. Bailey-Wilson, and B. E. K. Klein Confirmation of Linkage to Ocular Refraction on Chromosome 22q and Identification of a Novel Linkage Region on 1q Arch Ophthalmol, January 1, 2007; 125(1): 80 - 85. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. K. Nirmalan, S. Krishnaiah, B. R. Shamanna, G. N. Rao, and R. Thomas A population-based assessment of presbyopia in the state of andhra pradesh, South India: the andhra pradesh eye disease study. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., June 1, 2006; 47(6): 2324 - 2328. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S.-Y. Wu, Y. J. Yoo, B. Nemesure, A. Hennis, M. C. Leske, and the Barbados Eye Studies Group Nine-Year Refractive Changes in the Barbados Eye Studies Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., November 1, 2005; 46(11): 4032 - 4039. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. P. Klein, P. Duggal, K. E. Lee, R. Klein, J. E. Bailey-Wilson, and B. E. K. Klein Support for Polygenic Influences on Ocular Refractive Error Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., February 1, 2005; 46(2): 442 - 446. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Younan, P. Mitchell, R. G. Cumming, E. Rochtchina, and J. J. Wang Myopia and Incident Cataract and Cataract Surgery: The Blue Mountains Eye Study Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., December 1, 2002; 43(12): 3625 - 3632. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. E. Lee, B. E. K. Klein, R. Klein, and T. Y. Wong Changes in Refraction over 10 Years in an Adult Population: The Beaver Dam Eye Study Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., August 1, 2002; 43(8): 2566 - 2571. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. E. Lee, B. E. K. Klein, R. Klein, and J. P. Fine Aggregation of Refractive Error and 5-Year Changes in Refractive Error Among Families in the Beaver Dam Eye Study Arch Ophthalmol, November 1, 2001; 119(11): 1679 - 1685. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Y. Wong, B. E. K. Klein, R. Klein, S. C. Tomany, and K. E. Lee Refractive Errors and Incident Cataracts: The Beaver Dam Eye Study Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., June 1, 2001; 42(7): 1449 - 1454. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				C. J. Hammond, H. Snieder, C. E. Gilbert, and T. D. Spector Genes and Environment in Refractive Error: The Twin Eye Study Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., May 1, 2001; 42(6): 1232 - 1236. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				T. Y. Wong, P. J. Foster, T. P. Ng, J. M. Tielsch, G. J. Johnson, and S. K. L. Seah Variations in Ocular Biometry in an Adult Chinese Population in Singapore: The Tanjong Pagar Survey Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., January 1, 2001; 42(1): 73 - 80. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				T. Y. Wong, P. J. Foster, J. Hee, T. P. Ng, J. M. Tielsch, S. J. Chew, G. J. Johnson, and S. K. L. Seah Prevalence and Risk Factors for Refractive Errors in Adult Chinese in Singapore Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., August 1, 2000; 41(9): 2486 - 2494. [Abstract] [Full Text]