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

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

Methods: 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.

Results: 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.

Conclusions: 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.