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Keratometry in children
P A Asbell1, B Chiang, M E Somers
1Department of Ophthalmology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029.
Insights
Corneal curvature in children decreases systematically from birth until approximately 54 months of age. After this age, the cornea stabilizes, but eyes with persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous show steeper corneas.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Corneal Physiology
Background:
- Corneal curvature is a critical factor in visual development.
- Understanding normative corneal changes in early childhood is essential for diagnosing ocular conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document the changes in corneal curvature in children from birth to 54 months.
- To compare corneal curvature in children with persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV) to normal controls.
Main Methods:
- Central keratometric measurements were taken in 70 children.
- Children were grouped by age, including newborns to 6 months and 12-18 months.
- Eyes diagnosed with PHPV were also evaluated.
Main Results:
- Mean keratometric readings showed a systematic decline from birth to 54 months.
- Newborns-6 months averaged 47.59 D; 12-18 months averaged 45.56 D.
- Corneas stabilized around 54 months at 42.69 D.
- Eyes with PHPV exhibited significantly steeper corneas than age-matched controls.
Conclusions:
- Childhood corneal curvature undergoes significant, predictable changes.
- Steeper corneal curvature is a characteristic finding in persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous.
Abstract:
Corneal curvature was evaluated in 70 children by central keratometric measurements. The mean keratometric reading in each age group was seen to decline systematically from birth to about 54 months of age. The mean in the newborn-to-6-month-old group was 47.59 D; in the 12-18-month-old group it had decreased to 45.56 D. The cornea appears to stabilize at about 54 months, with an average reading of 42.69 D. Evaluation of 11 eyes diagnosed as having persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous revealed that eyes with this diagnosis generally have steeper corneas than normal eyes at any given age.