Gender Differences in Pupil Diameter and Dynamics in Preschool Children

• Published in: Neuro-Ophthalmology Japan Vol. 41; no. 4; pp. 321 - 327
• Main Authors: Hori, Yuichi, Dannoue, Kazuhiko, Kawakami, Momoko, Itokawa, Takashi, Matsumura, Saiko, Ishikawa, Hitoshi, Uemura, Keiko, Sakakibara, Nanae, Matsumoto, Tadashi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Japanese Neuro-Ophthalmology Society 25.12.2024; 日本神経眼科学会
• Subjects: gender differences; normal children; ocular structure; pupil diameter; pupillary light reflex
• ISSN: 0289-7024; 2188-2002
• DOI: 10.11476/shinkeiganka.41.321

Purpose: To investigate the effects of sex on pupil dynamics in children using an infrared pupillometer.Subjects and Methods: This study included 29 children (52 eyes) aged 4-6 years. Pupil diameter, axial length (AL), and non-cycloplegic autorefraction were measured during the kindergarten health checkups. We also evaluated the dynamic pupillary response to light. During pupillary constriction in response to light, the maximum and minimum pupil diameters, pupil constriction, latency, maximum and mean pupillary constriction speed, mydriasis speed, and 75% recovery time were analyzed.Results: The maximum pupil diameter (6.3±0.8 mm: 5.9±0.6 mm, p<0.05) and minimum pupil diameter (3.4±0.5 mm: 3.0±0.4 mm, p<0.05) were significantly larger in boys than girls. However, the other parameters related to the dynamic pupillary response did not show a significant difference between the sexes. The AL was significantly longer in boys than in girls (22.4±0.6 mm: 22.0±0.7 mm, p<0.05), and showed a significant positive correlation with maximum (r=0.29, p<0.05) and minimum (r=0.31, p<0.05) pupil diameters.Conclusion: Boys had longer AL and larger pupil diameters than girls, suggesting that sex differences may influence ocular structure in children.