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Astigmatism in children

Medical expert of the article

Ophthalmologist, ocular surgeon
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024

Astigmatism often occurs in healthy children. Recall that carrying out off-axis retinoscopy in newborns promotes overdiagnosis of astigmatism. The degree of astigmatism, as a rule, decreases during the first year of life. By the age of 8, in most children, in the absence of a combined pathology of the cornea (for example, keratoconus), the degree of refractive astigmatism usually acquires stability.

trusted-source[1], [2], [3], [4], [5]

Significance of astigmatism in children

The main significance is the relationship of astigmatism with amblyopia and strabismus. With astigmatism, comorbid disorders can occur, including:

  • corneal pathology (eg, keratoconus);
  • hypoplasia of the optic nerve;
  • ptosis;
  • congenital motor nystagmus.

Astigmatism of a high degree may accompany a certain general pathology, including:

  • albinism;
  • fetal alcohol syndrome;
  • pigmentary retinitis.

What do need to examine?

Treatment of astigmatism in children

Treatment of patients with direct astigmatism and astigmatism of a weak degree is not difficult. Treatment consists in:

  • the appointment of spectacle correction;
  • contact correction / gas permeable or soft toric contact lenses;
  • refractive surgery - in patients of childhood it is usually not shown.


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