Long-term follow-up of refractive and keratometric results of pediatric epikeratophakia.

Abstract

To examine the long-term stability of epikeratophakia and its effect on the development of young eyes, the change in corneal curvature and refractive error over time were reviewed in pediatric patients who underwent epikeratophakia for optical correction of aphakia. Over an average follow-up time of 28.0 months, corneal curvature flattened by 1.15 diopters, or 0.53 D/yr. The average change in refractive error was -2.81 D over 23.6 months, or 1.49 D/yr. Patients younger than 1 year of age at surgery became significantly more myopic over the period of follow-up (4.75 D) than patients older than 1 year of age at surgery (2.24 D). These changes are consistent with the corneal flattening and increase in axial length expected from normal growth. Aphakic infants corrected to emmetropia with epikeratophakia will likely require correction of myopia in later childhood.