The effect of mode of delivery on refractive errors in preschool children

risk of refractive amblyopia and contribute to the development of myopia.[5][6][7] The prevalence of astigmatism can vary depending on different criteria, age, and ethnicity; it has been reported that the incidence of astigmatism in children aged 3-6 years from different ethnic backgrounds varies between 4.0% and 44% according to different criteria.[8][9][10][11][12][13] Although the cause of astigmatism in children is not known exactly, many factors including prenatal and birth-related factors such as birth weight (BW), gestational age (GA), mode of delivery (MOD) and maternal age at birth, and other factors such as genetic, nutrition, smoking, IntroductIonThe preschool period holds unique importance in children's refractive development due to the ongoing development of visual systems and the risk of amblyopia due to uncorrected high ametropia or anisometropia. 1 Astigmatism, one of the common causes of vision impairment, is an optical defect resulting from the unequal curvature of the refractive surfaces of the eye, resulting in blurred images.If it is not corrected timely, it may present with a decrease in visual quality and regression in visual development.