Relationship Between Visual Acuity and Corneal Curvature Change in Children After Epiblepharon Surgery

To determine the relationship between visual acuity and corneal curvature change in children after epiblepharon correction surgery by corneal topography.

The authors retrospectively reviewed the data of 62 children (121 eyes) who had epiblepharon surgery. The authors measured keratometric values of corneal curvature for 2 corneal zones: central 3 and 5 mm zone. Two zones were classified into 4 areas, including nasal, superior, temporal, and inferior area. Visual acuity and keratometric values were estimated preoperatively and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. The authors analyzed the correlation between visual acuity and corneal curvature change in 4 areas of the 2 zones.

There were statistically significant differences between preoperative and postoperative visual acuity 1 month after surgery. At postoperative 3 months, the inferior and superior areas of the 3 mm corneal zone were much flatter than before surgery (P < 0.05). Corneal curvature only at the inferior area of the 3 mm zone had significantly a negative correlation with postoperative visual acuity at 3 and 6 months (r =  -0.275, P = 0.02 and r = -0.351, P = 0.01, respectively). However, visual acuity had no significant correlation with corneal curvature change in any of the areas of the 5-mm corneal zone.

The authors found that corneal curvature has significantly become flattened in the superior and inferior areas of the 3 mm corneal zone, postoperatively. Furthermore, inferior area in the 3 mm corneal zone affected only on the visual acuity improvement after postoperative 3 months.