Related Experiment Videos
Epikeratophakia in children
1Department of Ophthalmology, Helsinki University, Central Hospital, Finland.
Insights
Epikeratophakia surgery effectively corrects refractive errors in pediatric patients, offering significant visual improvements. This refractive surgery provides predictable and remarkable visual outcomes for children with various visual impairments.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Refractive Surgery
Background:
- Pediatric visual impairment often stems from refractive errors and cataracts.
- Epikeratophakia offers a surgical solution for refractive correction in young patients.
- Previous studies highlight the potential of epikeratophakia in specific pediatric cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and predictability of epikeratophakia in pediatric patients.
- To assess visual outcomes and refractive error changes following epikeratophakia.
- To determine the suitability of epikeratophakia for different pediatric visual conditions.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of 37 epikeratophakia grafts performed on 29 pediatric patients (9 months to 15 years).
- Assessment of surgical success rates, changes in refractive error (diopters), and spectacle overcorrection.
- Evaluation of visual acuity improvements, particularly in cases of traumatic or secondary cataracts.
Main Results:
- A high success rate of 91.1% for the initial surgeries.
- Average refractive error change of 16.7 diopters and minimal spectacle overcorrection (+0.2 diopters).
- Significant visual acuity improvements observed in young patients with over one year of follow-up, and in older children with cataracts.
Conclusions:
- Epikeratophakia is a successful refractive surgery for pediatric patients, achieving predictable and significant refractive correction.
- The procedure demonstrates positive visual outcomes, especially in very young children and those with specific cataract types.
- Epikeratophakia provides an average refractive addition of +17.1 diopters, with predictable correction amounts.
Abstract:
In the past two years 29 patients (ages 9 months to 15 years) received 37 epikeratophakia grafts. 91.1 percent of the original surgeries were successful. The average change in refractive error was 16.7 diopters, and the average spectacle overcorrection was +0.2 diopters. We have obtained good visual results in our very young patients were follow-up is already over 1 year. We demonstrated also some improvement in visual acuity in older children especially those with traumatic or secondary cataracts. The study demonstrates that we can add an average of +17.1 diopters with an epikeratophakia graft and that the amount of correction obtained is remarkable predicted.