Introduction: Unilateral or asymmetric astigmatism is considered a principal refractive error leading to amblyopia and regular eye examinations should be carried out during childhood to prevent visual impairment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of astigmatism and spectacle wear among Polish schoolchildren.
Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in children aged 6 to 14 years old from 50 schools in Poland. The presence of astigmatism was assessed by non-cycloplegic autorefraction, and defined as a cylinder equal or greater than 0.75 D. Children were classified as living in urban or rural areas according to the school location. Spectacle wear was defined as having spectacles at school.
Results: The study included 1041 children and 52.3% were girls (n = 544). The mean age was 8.62 ± 2.04 years. The prevalence of astigmatism was 7.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.8-9.1%). Only 21.7% of children with astigmatism wore spectacles at school. Astigmatism was diagnosed in 8.2% of boys (95% CI: 6.0-11.0%) and 6.4% of girls (95% CI: 4.5-8.8%; p = .13); cylindrical anisometropia was present in 19/76 (25.0%) of children with astigmatism (95% CI: 15.8%-36.3%). Against-the-rule astigmatism was the most common; it was observed in 48.7% of children with astigmatism, followed by with-the-rule astigmatism (44.7%) and oblique astigmatism (6.6%). The prevalence of astigmatism was not linearly correlated with age (r = 0.24; p = .53). Gender, age and place of living were not significantly associated with the presence of astigmatism.
Conclusions: This study reports a low prevalence of astigmatism in Polish school children. However, the majority of children with astigmatism were uncorrected. Further longitudinal studies are warranted.
Congenital cataracts account for a significant proportion of blindness in children worldwide. They affect approximately 12-136 per 100,000 births worldwide. A genetic etiology is present in a large proportion of patients and can lead to isolated cataracts or those in the context of genetic multisystem disorders. We present two examples of genetically determined childhood cataracts and briefly review the work-up of such patients. Mutations in numerous genes have been identified that cause congenital cataracts, such as those encoding for crystallins, connexins and aquaporins, as well as some developmental regulatory proteins. Identifying the genetic or molecular etiology of congenital cataract is essential for identifying and better understanding the pathways leading to this disease, and for providing individualized genetic counseling and guiding treatment for possible associated systemic problems.
Purpose: To summarize recent literature and provide an update on the role of intraocular lens implantation in children.
Design: AOC/AACO/AAO 2022 Symposium Summary.
Intervention: None.
Results: Literature review surrounding the use of intraocular lenses in children. Attention was given to multicenter study efforts including the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study, the Toddler Aphakia and Pseudophakia Study, and the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group Cataract Registry.
Conclusions: Intraocular lenses are a valuable tool in the care of children with lens abnormalities. Recent studies and advancements in fixation techniques have complimented our care and highlighted age and ocular dependent risks. Thorough initial clinical assessment and long-term postoperative management are critical in maximizing outcomes.
Unilateral congenital cataracts present multiple barriers in the development of vision and stereoacuity despite the improved visual optics that early surgery, contact lenses and intraocular lenses (IOL) have provided. With better understanding of the latent period (the timeframe in which the abnormal event has no long-term effect on visual development in the deprived eye) and the critical periods (the age range during which developing brains can be altered in a profound and permanent way by abnormal experience) for stereoacuity and amblyopia we can focus our treatment methods to not only improve vision but also develop binocularity. Fifty years ago, it was believed that it was almost impossible for an eye with a unilateral congenital cataract to achieve good visual acuity. Twenty-five years ago, we believed that it was almost impossible for an eye with a unilateral cataract to achieve stereoacuity. It is time to expand our belief that the best that we can do with the eye in unilateral congenital cataract is to create a spare.
Childhood cataract is a complex condition requiring longitudinal care, including early diagnosis, timely referral to a specialist, early surgical intervention, and dedicated postoperative care. Adherence to refractive correction and amblyopia therapy are critical for visual rehabilitation, even months to years after the cataract is removed. We review the impact of the social determinants of health on each step in the visual rehabilitation pathway for children with congenital and infantile cataracts. Children from socioeconomically marginalized backgrounds are more likely to experience delays in access to care and utilization of surgical services. They are also less likely to adhere to amblyopia therapy, with corresponding decrements in visual outcomes. Additional sociocultural factors, including parental stress, self-efficacy, and health literacy, pose barriers for these children. Standardizing clinical roles, improving health communication, managing parental stress, and implementing systemic policy changes may alleviate socioeconomic disparities in outcomes for children with cataracts.
Glaucoma Following Cataract Surgery (GFCS) remains a menace, so parents must be counseled prior to cataract removal in children. Age less than 7 months at the time of surgery increases this risk, and IOL placement has no effect. To lower IOP in GFCS, start with drops and before you escalate to surgery, consider phospholine iodide. Then, proceed cautiously with angle surgery and shunts, mixing in cycloablative procedures where appropriate in your hands. With patient-centered models for access, follow-up & adherence to treatment, GFCS can be controlled. Partnering with our certified orthoptist colleagues, we can achieve excellent results for the "whole patient" spanning cataracts, glaucoma, strabismus, and amblyopia.

