Outcomes of the infantile cataract surgery: case series with a 5-year follow-up
Amirhooshang Beheshtnejad1, Hesam Hashemian1, Sajjad Kakaie1
1Department of Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Insights
Infantile cataract surgery outcomes show high rates of amblyopia and strabismus. Close monitoring for complications like glaucoma is crucial in follow-up examinations after pediatric cataract surgery.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Visual Sciences
Background:
- Infantile cataract surgery is critical for visual development in children.
- Long-term outcomes and complication rates require thorough investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the 5-year outcomes of infantile cataract surgery in a pediatric population.
- To identify the prevalence of visual acuity, strabismus, amblyopia, and glaucoma post-surgery.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of medical records for patients undergoing lensectomy and anterior vitrectomy before age 10.
- Exclusion criteria included ocular trauma, specific retinal/corneal conditions, and incomplete follow-up.
- 85 eyes from 52 patients were analyzed.
Main Results:
- 50.6% of eyes remained aphakic post-surgery; no significant difference in corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) between aphakic and pseudophakic eyes.
- High prevalence of complications: amblyopia (88.2%), strabismus (61%), and glaucoma (20%).
- Age at surgery did not correlate with final CDVA; glaucoma showed no correlation with CDVA, age, or lens status.
Conclusions:
- Infantile cataract surgery is associated with significant rates of amblyopia, strabismus, and glaucoma.
- Regular follow-up examinations must meticulously screen for these potential complications.
- Proactive management is essential to optimize long-term visual outcomes in pediatric patients.
Purpose:
To present the 5-year outcomes obtained from the infantile cataract surgery in pediatric population.
Methods:
Medical records of all patients with unilateral or bilateral infantile cataract who had undergone lensectomy and anterior vitrectomy with or without intraocular lens implantation before 10 years of age were evaluated. Patients with any history of ocular trauma, retinal or corneal dystrophy, ocular or orbital surgery, retinopathy of prematurity, raised intraocular pressure at the time of diagnosis, or incomplete follow-up sessions were excluded from the research.
Results:
A total of 85 eyes belonged to 52 patients were analyzed. Bilateral and unilateral diseases were present in 33 (63.5%) and 19 (36.5%) patients, respectively. After performing the first operation, 43 (50.6%) eyes still remained aphakic. The mean corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) of the aphakic and pseudophakic eyes was estimated as 0.77 ± 0.52 and 0.43 ± 0.39 logMAR with no statistical difference. The age at the time of performing the cataract surgery was not associated with the final CDVA in either group. Complications in the anterior segment structures were noted in 39 (45%) eyes. Strabismus and amblyopia were noted in 52 (61%) and 75 (88.2%) eyes, respectively. Glaucoma was found in 17 (20%) eyes with no correlation with the final CDVA, age at the time of cataract surgery, or the status of the lens.
Conclusion:
Due to high prevalence rates of amblyopia, strabismus, and glaucoma after the infantile cataract surgery, specific attention should be paid to these complications in each follow-up examination.
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