Abstract
Purpose To evaluate the post-operative changes in astigmatism in pseudophakic eyes in children.
Methods The charts of children who had undergone surgery for non-traumatic cataract were retrospectively reviewed. In 10 eyes with astigmatism of 3.0 D or more, the refraction was tested and recorded at 1 week, 3 months and 5 months post-operatively.
Results Mean astigmatism 1 week post-operatively was 6.2 ± 2.7 D (range 3.0-11.0 D). Thereafter, the astigmatic component of the refractive error underwent a spontaneous steady decline, reaching a mean value of 1.2 ± 1.1 D (range 0-3.0 D) 5 months after surgery. The change in the difference between the mean values at 1 week and at 5 months was statistically significant (p = 0.0002).
Conclusions Children who underwent cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation showed a significant spontaneous reduction in astigmatism post-operatively. This finding suggests that there is no need to remove sutures in order to achieve reduction of postoperative astigmatism in these children.
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Spierer, A., Shelah, M. Changes in astigmatism after cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation in children. Eye 13, 360–362 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.1999.91
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.1999.91
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