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 (<or=0.0 logMAR) was found in 79% of subjects. None of the children had VA in the better eye <0.5 (>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.