title: The long term effects of unilateral corneal scars.
abstract: The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the long term effects of unilateral dense central corneal scars on the axial length and development of lens opacities. We included 12 patients with unilateral dense central corneal scars of early onset before the age of seven years. This study served as naturally-controlled experiment and demonstrated a statistically significant increase in ocular axial length and decrease in the incidence of cataract in the eye with central corneal scar. Visual deprivation induced by unilateral central corneal scars occurring in early childhood leads to increase in the ocular axial length, and decrease in the incidence of cataract.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Tabbara
authors.forename: O M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Al-Omar
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: El-Sheikh
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sharara
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014792:Visual Acuity