Changes in central corneal thickness after congenital cataract surgery

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Science
• Pediatric Ophthalmology

Background:

• Congenital cataracts necessitate surgical intervention, often involving lensectomy and vitrectomy.
• The decision between intraocular lens (IOL) implantation (pseudophakic) or leaving the eye aphakic impacts postoperative outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate changes in central corneal thickness (CCT) following congenital cataract surgery.
• To compare CCT in eyes with and without intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.

Main Methods:

• A comparative case series involving 47 eyes with congenital cataracts.
• Eyes underwent anterior lensectomy and vitrectomy, with some receiving IOL implantation (pseudophakic group) and others remaining aphakic.
• Central corneal thickness (CCT) and intraocular pressure were measured preoperatively and at 1 and 6 months postoperatively, with age-matched normal eyes as controls.

Main Results:

• Preoperative CCT was similar across pseudophakic, aphakic, and control groups.
• One and six months post-surgery, aphakic eyes exhibited significantly greater CCT than pseudophakic eyes.
• While CCT remained stable in pseudophakic eyes, it significantly increased in aphakic eyes compared to preoperative measurements.

Conclusions:

• Central corneal thickness (CCT) in eyes with congenital cataracts is comparable to normal eyes before surgery.
• Aphakic eyes demonstrate a significant increase in CCT post-cataract surgery compared to pseudophakic eyes.
• IOL implantation appears to help maintain corneal thickness after congenital cataract removal.