title: Comparison of measured astigmatic retinoscopies from different lid specula.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We wanted to study the effects of different lid specula on retinoscopy readings in the pediatric population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively enrolled 29 patients from the Eye Clinic at The Children's Hospital of Denver who were being examined under anesthesia and met the inclusion criteria for the study. Any patient with ocular pathology that could affect the pliability of the sclera of both eyes was excluded. Patients with preexisting lid abnormalities or adnexal masses were also excluded. Cycloplegic retinoscopies were performed under anesthesia with the Barraquer wire and the Lancaster solid-blade specula. The amounts and the axes of the astigmatism were tabulated and statistically analyzed with the paired t test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistically significant difference occurred in the retinoscopies obtained from the 2 lid specula. The Barraquer lid speculum seemed to induce the least amount of astigmatism (P =.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a statistically significant difference in the amount of astigmatism found with each lid speculum. The choice of lid speculum in performing retinoscopies on the pediatric population can influence the final refraction and may have implications for visual outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, The Children's Hospital, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado, USA. caroline.shea@uchsc.edu
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Shea
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Westfall
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: MacKenzie
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Bateman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005143:Eyelids; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012160:Retina / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013525:Surgical Instruments / Q000009:adverse effects*