Peripheral refraction for distance and near vision in emmetropes and myopes

We investigated the relationship between myopia and peripheral refraction for distance and near vision by measuring peripheral refractive errors in 10 myopic and 10 emmetropic participants at viewing distances of 2.5 and 0.4 m. Measurements were made at the fovea, and at eccentricities of 10°, 20° and 30° in the temporal and nasal hemispheres of the horizontal visual field. Our results showed that peripheral astigmatism increased with increasing eccentricity, but there was no significant difference between refractive error groups except at 30° eccentricity in the temporal retina. Considering the Mean Spherical Equivalent errors, emmetropes became relatively myopic at peripheral eccentricities, but there was little change in myopes. The effect of viewing distance on astigmatism or Mean Spherical Equivalent error was not significant. Our results do not support the view that myopia is associated with changes in peripheral refraction during distance or near vision. © 2007 The Authors.