Purpose: To determine whether differences exist in morphological structures of dominant and nondominant eyes in children ages 6 or 12 years. The following structural features were assessed: axial length, refraction, corneal radius of curvature, and retinal features-measured with the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT)-including macular and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and optic disk parameters.
Methods: Of 4,118 children examined from 2003 to 2005 in the Sydney Myopia Study, 3,382 (82.1%) had OCT data for analysis. Comprehensive standardized eye examinations were performed, including best-corrected visual acuity. Ocular dominance was determined using the hole-in-card test, repeated on 3 occasions. Dominance was assigned only if the 3 measurements were identical. "Fast" scans of the optic disk and retina were performed using OCT.
Results: Dominance was observed in 85% of subjects, with boys having a tendency toward right eye dominance. The dominant eye was longer (p = 0.001 and p = 0.0003 for 6- and 12-year-old patients, respectively) and more myopic (p = 0.002 and p = 0.0001, respectively) than its counterpart. No retinal features consistently identified dominant from nondominant eyes in both age groups.
Conclusions: Although dominant eyes tended to be longer and slightly more myopic than nondominant eyes, we found no consistent ocular structural differences between dominant and nondominant eyes with the use of OCT.