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Cataract surgery outcomes in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus
Sumita Agarkar1, Akila Chandrasekaran1, Gayathri J Panicker1
1Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Services, Medical Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Insights
Cataract surgery significantly improves vision in pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. However, complications like posterior capsular opacification and diabetic retinopathy require monitoring and intervention.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Endocrinology
Background:
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic condition affecting children and adolescents.
- Cataract development is a potential complication in diabetic patients.
- Understanding surgical outcomes in this population is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the outcomes of cataract surgery in pediatric patients diagnosed with T1DM.
- To identify common complications and their management following cataract surgery in this cohort.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records of pediatric patients (<18 years) with T1DM undergoing cataract surgery.
- Data collected from January 2000 to December 2019 at a tertiary care center.
- Analysis of visual acuity, complications, and interventions.
Main Results:
- 27 eyes from 15 patients were analyzed; median age at surgery was 13 years.
- Significant improvement in visual acuity from 0.8 to 0.15 logMAR post-surgery.
- Common complications included posterior capsular opacification (40.7%) and diabetic retinopathy (14.8%).
Conclusions:
- Cataract surgery effectively enhances visual acuity in children and adolescents with T1DM.
- Proliferative diabetic retinopathy poses a risk for poor visual outcomes.
- Visual axis opacification rates are comparable regardless of primary posterior capsulorhexis.
Purpose:
To report the outcomes of cataract surgery in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Methods:
The medical records of all pediatric patients (<18 years of age) with a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus who had undergone surgery for cataract between January 2000 and December 2019 at a tertiary care center were reviewed retrospectively.
Results:
A total of 27 eyes of 15 patients who met the inclusion criteria were included. Median age at cataract surgery was 13 (IQR, 9.5-16) years, and median follow-up was 3.8 (IQR, 1.25-7.2) years, with 11 eyes followed for more than 5 years. Visual acuity improved from a median preoperative value of 0.8 (IQR, 0.55-1.3) logMAR to 0.15 (IQR, 0-0.45) logMAR at final follow-up. Posterior capsular visual axis opacification in 40.7% and diabetic retinopathy in 14.8% were the common complications requiring additional intervention, including laser capsulotomy and panretinal photocoagulation, respectively.
Conclusions:
Cataract surgery in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes leads to improvement in visual acuity. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy can lead to poor visual outcomes in these children. Visual axis opacification occurs at similar rates with or without primary posterior capsulorhexis.
