Relative peripheral refraction and its role in myopia onset in teenage students

AIM: To characterize peripheral refraction and its relationship with myopia development in a selected group of male teenage Chinese students.. METHODS: This 2-year prospective cohort study randomly enrolled 85 non-myopic boys (age, 14-16y) from the Experimental Class of Air Force in China. Cycloplegic peripheral refraction was examined at 0 degrees, +/- 10 degrees, and +/- 20 degrees along the horizontal visual field in the right eye at the baseline and 2-year follow-up.. RESULTS: The incidence of myopia at the 2-year follow-up was 15.29% (13/85). The baseline central refraction (CR) and peripheral refraction at +/- 10 degrees were significantly lower in students who developed myopia than in those who did not (P<0.05). Relative peripheral refraction (RPR) did not differ between students with and without myopia (P>0.05). At the 2- year follow-up, the RPR at +/- 10 degrees and 20 degrees nasal was significantly more hyperopic in the myopic group than in the non-myopic group. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the change in CR was significantly correlated with the changes in RPR at 20 degrees nasal, 10 degrees nasal, and 20 degrees temporal. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that the baseline CR [odds ratio (OR): 0.092, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.012-0.688, P=0.020] and the baseline RPR at 10 degrees nasal (OR: 0.182, 95%CI: 0.042-0.799, P=0.024) were significantly correlated with incident myopia (Omnibus test, chi(2)=10.20, P=0.006).. CONCLUSION: CR change is significantly correlated with changes in RPR, and students who develop myopia have more relative peripheral hyperopia. More baseline CR and relative peripheral hyperopia at 10 degrees nasal are protective of myopia onset.