[Axial length and corneal curvature in pseudophakia in children]

To assess changes in axial length, corneal curvature in pseudophakia in children.

104 patients (123 eyes) operated between January 1987 and December 1997 with congenital or traumatic cataract. Serial measurements were made of axial length and corneal curvature.

The follow up time ranged from 2 to 10 years. The ranges of axial length changes were from 0,16 to 0,93 mm. Eyes in the first 6 years of life (group I) experienced more elongation than eyes in the older years (group II and III). The corneal curvature changes ranged from 0,02 to 0,05 mm. There was no significant difference between preoperative and postoperative corneal curvature.

The pattern of axial elongation and corneal flattening was similar in the congenital and traumatic cataract groups to that observed in normal eyes. No significant retardation or acceleration of axial growth was found in the eyes implanted with IOLs, compared with normal eyes.