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Astigmatism in children
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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Astigmatism is common in healthy children. Let us recall that off-axis retinoscopy in newborns contributes to overdiagnosis of astigmatism. The degree of astigmatism usually decreases during the first year of life. By the age of 8, in most children, in the absence of combined corneal pathology (for example, keratoconus), the degree of refractive astigmatism usually becomes stable.
[ The Importance of Astigmatism in Children
Of primary importance is the relationship between astigmatism and amblyopia and strabismus. Astigmatism may be accompanied by associated disorders, including:
- corneal pathology (eg, keratoconus);
- optic nerve hypoplasia;
- ptosis;
- congenital motor nystagmus.
High degrees of astigmatism may be associated with certain general pathologies, including:
- albinism;
- fetal alcohol syndrome;
- retinitis pigmentosa.
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Treatment of astigmatism in children
Treatment of patients with direct astigmatism and astigmatism of a weak degree is not complicated. Treatment consists of:
- appointment of glasses correction;
- contact correction/gas permeable or soft toric contact lenses;
- refractive surgery - it is usually not indicated in pediatric patients.