title: Pediatric refractive surgery.
abstract: Refractive surgery in children is controversial; it is mainly performed when conventional treatment has failed. The primary indications are anisometropic amblyopia and bilateral high myopia. The major areas of concern are unstable refraction due to ongoing growth of the eye, and long-term implications. The most popular procedures are photorefractive keratectomy or laser-assisted subepithelial keratomileusis followed by laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis. There are technical difficulties involved in performing these procedures because of smaller palpebral apertures and the need for general anesthesia in younger children. Reports of minimal haze and regression in children who have undergone photorefractive keratectomy for high myopia are of interest, as this is contrary to what occurs in adults. Additional study may result in better long-term data and further indications for refractive surgery in children.
authors.affiliation: Mater Private Hospital, Children's University Hospital, and University College, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Keefe
authors.forename: Caitriona
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kirwan
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D018579:Patient Selection; D054140:Refractive Surgical Procedures