title: Changes in astigmatism after cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the post-operative changes in astigmatism in pseudophakic eyes in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  The charts of children who had undergone surgery for non-traumatic cataract were retrospectively reviewed. In 10 eyes with astigmatism of 3.0 D or more, the refraction was tested and recorded at 1 week, 3 months and 5 months post-operatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean astigmatism 1 week post-operatively was 6.2 +/- 2.7 D (range 3.0-11.0 D). Thereafter, the astigmatic component of the refractive error underwent a spontaneous steady decline, reaching a mean value of 1.2 +/- 1.1 D (range 0-3.0 D) 5 months after surgery. The change in the difference between the mean values at 1 week and at 5 months was statistically significant (p = 0.0002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children who underwent cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation showed a significant spontaneous reduction in astigmatism post-operatively. This finding suggests that there is no need to remove sutures in order to achieve reduction of post-operative astigmatism in these children.
authors.affiliation: Goldschleger Eye Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spierer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shelah
mesh_terms: D001251:Astigmatism / Q000209:etiology*; D002386:Cataract / Q000151:congenital*; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013537:Sutures