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Updated: Jul 11, 2026
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Surgical Correction for Pediatric Epiblepharon and Trichiasis
Published on: July 8, 2025
Astigmatism in children with epiblepharon.
1Department of Ophthalmology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
Cornea
|September 26, 2007
Summary
Children needing surgery for epiblepharon (eyelid turning inward) have increased astigmatism, particularly in the 4-7 year age group. Severe corneal erosion correlates with higher astigmatism, which surgery does not significantly correct.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Corneal Diseases
Background:
- Epiblepharon, an inward turning of the eyelid, can cause corneal irritation and visual disturbances in children.
- Astigmatism, a refractive error, is common in pediatric populations and can impact visual development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between astigmatism and epiblepharon requiring surgical intervention in Taiwanese children.
- To compare astigmatism severity in children with epiblepharon versus a control group.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective case-control study analyzed 254 eyes of children with surgically treated lower-lid epiblepharon and 205 control eyes.
- Data included age, sex, corneal erosion severity, visual acuity, and refractive errors (astigmatism decomposed into P90 and Pobl).
- Nonparametric tests were used to compare astigmatism severity between groups.
Main Results:
- Children aged 4-7 with epiblepharon showed significantly higher P90 astigmatism (1.12 D) compared to controls (0.47 D).
- More severe corneal erosion was significantly associated with greater astigmatism (P = 0.002), even after healing.
- Postoperative astigmatism (P90 and Pobl) did not show significant changes after surgical correction.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric epiblepharon requiring surgery is linked to increased with-the-rule astigmatism compared to controls.
- The degree of corneal erosion severity is a predictor of higher astigmatism in these children.
- Surgical correction of epiblepharon and subsequent reepithelialization did not significantly reduce astigmatism.
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