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Refractive Error, Pediatric

Leah G. Reznick, MD and Allison R. Loh, MD Reviewed 10/2018
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Refractive errors are abnormalities in the optical components of the eyes that cause light not to be focused on the retinal plane. In order for a person to have clear vision, light e...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Age of onset of vision loss

  • History of headaches, squinting, or subjective vision problems

  • Associated ocular abnormalities, trauma, injury, or surgery

  • History of strabismus, amblyopia

  • His...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Refractive errors are treated by corrective lenses. Young children typically use glasses and teenagers may use contact lenses.

  • The following guidelines for prescribing glasses...

ONGOING CARE

Because refractive error depends on the eye’s shape and the eye’s shape changes as a child grows, the refractive error will evolve over time. Because this process is dynamic, children req...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • American Academy of Ophthalmology. Preferred Practice Pattern: Refractive Errors. San Francisco, CA: American Academy of Ophthalmology; 2013. [View Abstract on OvidInsights]

  • Americ...

CODES

ICD9

  • 367.9 Unspecified disorder of refraction and accommodation

  • 367.1 Myopia

  • 367.20 Astigmatism, unspecified

  • 367.0 Hypermetropia

  • 367.22 Irregular astigmatism

  • 367.31 Anisometropia

  • 367.21 Regular astigma...

FAQ

  • Q: Will my child always need glasses?

  • A: Not necessarily. As children grow, the shape of the eyes change. Because the need for glasses depend on the eye’s shape, it is unclear whether the child wil...

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