Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 17, 2026
Surgical Correction for Pediatric Epiblepharon and Trichiasis
Published on: July 8, 2025
The Infant Aphakia Treatment Study Contact Lens Experience to Age 5 Years
Buddy Russell1, Lindreth DuBois, Michael Lynn
1Department of Ophthalmology (B.R., L.D., M.A.W., S.R.L.), Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA; and Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (M.L.), Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
Insights
Infants with unilateral aphakia can successfully wear contact lenses, including silicone elastomer and rigid gas permeable types, with minimal adverse events. This study tracked outcomes in the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study (IATS).
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Contact Lens Technology
Background:
- Unilateral aphakia in infants presents significant visual challenges.
- Early management is crucial for visual development.
- Contact lenses are a primary treatment option for aphakia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term outcomes of contact lens wear in infants with unilateral aphakia.
- To assess the safety and efficacy of different contact lens types in this population.
- To report on visual acuity and refractive changes in treated infants.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 114 infants from the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study (IATS) were randomized.
- 57 infants were assigned to contact lens wear (silicone elastomer or rigid gas permeable).
- Data collected included keratometry, visual acuity, and adverse events up to age 5 years.
Main Results:
- 46% wore silicone elastomer, 19% wore rigid gas permeable, and 29% wore both lens types.
- Visual acuity at 4.5 years varied between lens types.
- Mean keratometric power and astigmatism remained relatively stable from baseline to 5 years.
- 13 contact lens-related adverse events occurred in 7 patients after age 1 year.
Conclusions:
- Infants with unilateral aphakia can successfully wear contact lenses.
- Contact lens wear in this cohort was associated with relatively few adverse events.
- This management approach supports visual development in aphakic infants.
Purpose:
To describe our experience treating a cohort of unilateral aphakic infants with contact lenses in the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study (IATS).
Materials And Methods:
Fifty-seven of the 114 infants in the IATS were randomized to contact lens wear; all were followed until age 5 years, although a few had lapses in care. An examination under anesthesia, including keratometry, was performed at the time of enrollment and at approximately 1 year of age; keratometry was performed again at 5 years of age. A traveling examiner assessed visual acuity at approximately 1 year of age and again at 4.5 years of age.
Results:
Twenty-four treated eyes (46%) wore silicone elastomer (SE) contact lenses, 11 eyes (19%) rigid gas permeable (GP) contact lenses and 17 eyes (29%) wore both lens types at various points of time. Median logMAR visual acuity was +0.70 (interquartile range (IQR), +0.30 to 1.20) in the SE group and 2.03 (IQR, +0.20 to 2.28) in the GP group at age 4.5 years. The mean (±SD) keratometric power of the treated eyes was 46.3±2.8 diopter (D) at baseline, 44.6±2.3 D at 1 year of age, and 44.3±1.7 D at 5 years of age. Keratometric astigmatism of treated eyes was 1.98±1.37 D at baseline, 1.62±0.98 D at 1 year of age, and 2.00±1.00 D at 5 years of age. Thirteen contact lens-related adverse events occurred among 7 patients after age 1 year.
Conclusions:
A cohort of infants with unilateral aphakia successfully wore contact lenses with relatively few adverse events.
More Related Videos
06:19Comparison of Three Clinical Stereoscopic Methods for Measuring Binocular Visual Function During Amblyopic Treatment in Unilateral Amblyopia
Published on: September 27, 2024
05:46Author Spotlight: Advancements in Refractive Surgical Correction for Presbyopia and Exploring Postoperative Visual Acuity
Published on: September 20, 2024