Changes in Corneal Curvature After Epiblepharon Surgery in Children

Abstract

Purpose: We aimed to determine the change in corneal topography for 2-different corneal zones and 4-quadrants after epiblepharon correction in children.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 39 patients (74 eyes) who underwent epiblepharon surgery. Keratometry measurements of corneal curvature were performed for 2 optical zones defined as circular areas with a radius of 3 and 5 mm from the corneal apex. Each optical zone was divided into quadrants (nasal, superior, temporal, and inferior). Keratometry readings for each quadrant of zone were compared between the preoperative and postoperative examinations (at 1, 3, and 6 months). The correlation between corneal astigmatism and curvature change was analyzed for each quadrant of the 3-mm optical zone.

Results: At 1 month postoperatively, the inferior and superior quadrants of the 3-mm optical zone became significantly flatter compared with the preoperative state, and this phenomenon became more pronounced at 3 months postoperatively (P < 0.05). However, no significant postoperative change in corneal curvature was noted for any quadrant of the 5-mm optical zone. There was a statistically significant correlation between the change in astigmatism and corneal curvature for the superior and inferior quadrants of the 3-mm optical zone (R = 0.394, P < 0.05; R = 0.460, P < 0.05; respectively).

Conclusions: Astigmatism reduction was affected by corneal flatness in the inferior rather than the superior quadrant. Epiblepharon surgery results in reduction of corneal steepness at the vertical axis of the 3-mm optical zone, which correlates to astigmatism reduction.