ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Med.
Sec. Ophthalmology
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1562041
Stereoacuity and ocular-associated factors in children aged 3-7 years in Guangxi, Southwest China: a cross-sectional study
Provisionally accepted
- Visual Science and Optometry Center of Guangxi, People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
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Objective To investigate the distribution of stereoacuity and its ocular-associated factors in children aged 3-7 years in Guangxi, Southwest China. Methods This cross-sectional study recruited 4,090 children aged 3-7 years (mean: 5.12±0.95 years) from 12 randomly selected kindergartens via cluster sampling in Nanning city, Guangxi, Southwest China. Comprehensive ocular assessments included visual acuity assessment, cover/uncover and alternating cover tests, anterior segment examination, fundus examination, the Titmus stereo test and cycloplegic autorefraction. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine the factors associated with subnormal stereoacuity (>40 arcsec). Results The prevalence rates of anisometropia, astigmatism, and strabismus were 18.24%, 26.11%, and 0.20%, respectively. The mean stereoacuity was 1.88±0.34 log units (median: 60.25 arcsec), with the majority (65.18%) having subnormal stereoacuity. The mean log units of stereoacuity decreased with age (F=144.7, P<0.001). Compared with girls, boys had a significantly greater mean log unit stereoacuity (1.90±0.35 vs 1.87±0.34, t=2.589, P=0.010). In the multivariate logistic regression, older age (odds ratio [OR]: 0.040--0.461 for years 4--7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.018-0.613 for years 4--7, all P<0.001) and girls (OR=0.672, 95% CI: 0.584--0.772, P<0.001) were protective factors, whereas interocular acuity difference [IAD] (OR=6.906, 95% CI: 3.133--16.01, P<0.001), mean LogMAR acuity (OR=11.491, 95% CI: 6.065--22.153, P<0.001), mean cylindrical error [CYLmean] (OR=1.201, 95% CI: 1.055--1.365, P=0.005), and anisometropia (OR=1.452, 95% CI: 1.202-1.760, P<0.001) were risk factors for subnormal stereoacuity. Conclusions Ocular factors, including higher IAD, worse acuity, greater astigmatism, and greater anisometropia, were identified as risk factors for subnormal stereoacuity, highlighting the importance and urgency of early screening for stereoacuity and ocular risk factors in children aged 3-7 years in Guangxi.
Keywords: Children, Stereoacuity, Visual Acuity, Anisometropia, Astigmatism 2 / 22 Children, Stereoacuity, Visual acuity, Anisometropia, Astigmatism
Received: 16 Jan 2025; Accepted: 17 Jun 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Xiao, Huang, Luo, Luo, Li, Lin, Kong and Chen. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Xin Xiao, Visual Science and Optometry Center of Guangxi, People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
Qi Chen, Visual Science and Optometry Center of Guangxi, People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
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