title: Normalisation of refractive error after steroid injection for adnexal haemangiomas.
abstract: A longitudinal study of 27 patients with infantile haemangiomas is reported. It confirmed the efficacy of local steroid injection as a method of treatment; 81.5% of patients showed a marked improvement, with the lesion reducing to 25% or less of its original size. Involution was most marked in the first two weeks but continued for up to four months after injection. Amblyopia was present in 43% of children and was usually the result of induced refractive error rather than obstruction of the visual axis or strabismus. Anisometropia was found in 68% of children, with a high incidence of asymmetric astigmatism on the side of the haemangioma. Following local steroid injection a marked reduction in astigmatism was noted in 53.8% of children, a lesser reduction in 15.4%, and no reduction in 30.8%. Successful treatment of the haemangioma, therefore, may not remove the risk of amblyopia, and regular refraction and visual assessment remain mandatory.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Birmingham Children's Hospital.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Morrell
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Willshaw
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000550:Amblyopia / Q000209:etiology; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000517:prevention & control; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005142:Eyelid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014221:Triamcinolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014221:Triamcinolone; D003907:Dexamethasone