Follow-up patterns and associated risk factors after paediatric cataract surgery: observation over a 5-year period

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pediatric Surgery
• Public Health

Background:

• Congenital and developmental cataracts require timely surgical intervention in children.
• Long-term follow-up is crucial for monitoring visual outcomes and managing potential complications after pediatric cataract surgery.
• Understanding factors influencing follow-up compliance is essential for optimizing patient care and improving treatment success rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the pattern of follow-up compliance in children under 5 years old who underwent surgery for congenital or developmental cataracts.
• To analyze the trend of patient attendance for scheduled follow-up appointments over a 5-year period post-surgery.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study was conducted on 169 children under 5 years of age who had cataract surgery between January and December 2010.
• Data collected included patient demographics, cataract type, surgical interventions, and follow-up compliance at various intervals up to 5 years post-surgery.
• Statistical analysis was performed to identify factors associated with follow-up compliance.

Main Results:

• The median follow-up duration was 22 months, with a median age at surgery of 10 months.
• Follow-up compliance demonstrated a logarithmic decline: 85% at 1 month, decreasing to 28% at 5 years.
• Lower socioeconomic status (P=0.009) and multiple surgical interventions (P<0.0001) were significantly associated with follow-up patterns.

Conclusions:

• The rate of loss to follow-up in pediatric cataract surgery follows a logarithmic pattern.
• Younger age at the time of surgery and lower socioeconomic status are significant predictors of poor follow-up adherence.
• These findings highlight the need for targeted strategies to improve long-term follow-up in this vulnerable patient population.