New Red Flag Discovered for Eye Problems in Infants

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Allen Press, Inc.

Jan 05, 2016, 14:00 ET


Lawrence, Kansas (PRWEB) January 05, 2016 -- The Cleft Palate–Craniofacial Journal – Over the past two decades there has been an increase in metopic craniosynostosis in infants. This condition, which involves premature fusion of the frontal suture in the middle of the forehead, can cause vision problems. It is recommended that this condition be evaluated by an ophthalmologist because the earlier treatment can occur, the less risk there is for decreased vision.

The article “Incidence of Amblyopia and Its Risk Factors in Children With Isolated Metopic Craniosynostosis,” in The Cleft Palate–Craniofacial Journal discusses a retrospective study in which the cases of 91 children with metopic synostosis were reviewed. The study showed that of those 91 children, 19 had astigmatism, 8 had amblyopia, 8 had strabismus, 5 had myopia, 5 had hyperopia, and 5 had anisometropia. The incidence of amblyopia was higher than in the population of children without this condition. Amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, can be treated if detected early enough.

If ophthalmologists are able to treat the children early enough, the risk factors for amblyopia caused by metopic craniosynostosis are considerably reduced. This study has the largest sampling of cases to date that found metopic craniosynostosis as a risk factor. “Amblyopia is an ophthalmologic condition that can be treated successfully when detected early enough; specialists treating patients with metopic craniosynostosis should be aware of the association of amblyopia with this diagnosis and make timely referrals to an ophthalmologist,” said Arshad R. Muzaffar, an author of the study.

Full text of the article, “Incidence of Amblyopia and Its Risk Factors in Children With Isolated Metopic Craniosynostosis,” The Cleft Palate–Craniofacial Journal, Vol. 53, No. 1, 2015, is available at http://www.cpcjournal.org/doi/full/10.1597/14-212.

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About The Cleft Palate–Craniofacial Journal
The Cleft Palate–Craniofacial Journal is an international, interdisciplinary journal reporting on clinical and research activities in cleft lip, cleft palate, and other craniofacial anomalies, together with research in related laboratory sciences. It is the official publication of the American Cleft Palate–Craniofacial Association (ACPA). For more information, visit http://www.acpa-cpf.org/.

Jacob Frese, Allen Press, Inc., http://www.allenpress.com/, +1 800-627-0326 Ext: 410, [email protected]