HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Granet, D. B. Articles by Castro, E. Search for Related Content

What Do You Tell Parents Who Ask, "Why Can’t My Child Have Refractive Surgery?"

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be addressed to: David B. Granet, M.D., Abraham Ratner Children’s Eye Center, University of California, San Diego, Department of Ophthalmology, 9415 Campus Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0946. e-mail: dgranet{at}ucsd.edu

The success and popularity of refractive procedures in adults has raised the issue of whether children should also be treated. The social stigma of spectacle wear and widespread difficulties with compliance are sometimes enough reason for parents to explore refractive surgery as an alternative means to improve vision.

There are many unanswered questions regarding pediatric refractive surgery, its complications, and implications on a still developing eye. With the success of traditional methods like glasses and patching, the possibility of refractive surgery in children should be delayed until sufficient scientific data has been collected.

Key words: refractive surgery, amblyopia, anisometropia, LASIK