The distribution of the near point of convergence and its related factors in an elderly population: the Tehran Geriatric Eye Study (TGES)

Abstract

Background: To determine the distribution of the near point of convergence (NPC) and its related factors in an elderly population in Tehran, Iran.

Methods: This population-based cross-sectional study was conducted on the elderly population (60 years of age and over) of Tehran, Iran in 2019. The samples were selected using stratified random cluster sampling. The examinations included the measurement of uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuity, objective and subjective refraction, unilateral and alternate cover test, ocular health examination, and NPC measurement.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 65.90 ± 4.56 years and 59.6% of them were females. The mean (95% CI) NPC in the total sample was 7.84 cm (95% CI: 7.65-8.03). The mean (95% CI) NPC in males and females was 7.92 cm (7.63-8.21) and 7.75 cm (7.54-7.97) (P = 0.338), respectively. The mean NPC increased from 7.8 cm (95% CI: 7.55-8.05) in the age group 60-64 years to 8.83 cm (95% CI: 7.47-10.2) in the age group ≥ 80 years (P > 0.05). The mean (95% CI) NPC in emmetropic, myopic, and hyperopic individuals was 7.67 cm (95% CI: 7.33-8.02), 7.96 cm (7.56-8.37), and 7.87 cm (7.63-8.11), respectively (P = 0.378). There was no statistically significant relationship between NPC with education level, smoking, diabetes mellitus (DM), and hypertension (HT).

Conclusions: The NPC values found in this study were significantly lower (less remote) than the values reported in previous studies in similar age groups. The NPC had no significant relationship with age, sex, education level, smoking, DM, and HT.