Glaucoma-Related Adverse Events in the First 5 Years After Unilateral Cataract Removal in the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study

Postoperative complications and axial length growth after bilateral congenital cataract surgery: eyes with microphthalmos compared to a comparison group

PURPOSE

To investigate the postoperative clinical outcomes and axial length (AL) growth of infants with congenital cataracts and microphthalmos following first-stage cataract surgery.

DESIGN

Retrospective case-control study.

METHODS

Setting: Single centre. Infants with congenital cataract that met the inclusion criteria were classified into two groups: the microphthalmos and comparison groups. All infants underwent a thorough ophthalmologic examination before surgery, and one week, 1 month, 3 months, and every 3 months after surgery.

RESULTS

This study enrolled 21 infants (42 eyes) in the microphthalmos group and 29 infants (58 eyes) in the comparison group. More glaucoma-related adverse events were observed in the microphthalmos group (7 eyes, 16.7%) than in the comparison group (0 eyes, 0%) (p < 0.001). At each subsequent follow-up, the comparison group had a greater AL than the microphthalmos group (all p < 0.001), and AL growth was significantly higher in the comparison group than in the microphthalmos group (all p = 0.035). Visual acuity improvement in the microphthalmos group was similar to that of the comparison group.

CONCLUSION

Early surgical intervention improves visual function in infants with congenital cataracts and microphthalmos although with a higher incidence of glaucoma-related adverse events. After cataract removal, the AL growth of microphthalmic eyes is slower than that of normally developed eyes.

Timing of Diagnosis and Treatment of Glaucoma following Infantile Cataract Surgery

PURPOSE

To report timing of diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma following cataract surgery (GFCS) in a large cohort of infants undergoing cataract surgery at a tertiary care center.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

PARTICIPANTS

All consecutive infants that underwent cataract surgery over a 30-year period from January 1991 to December 2021 were included if they had at least 1 year follow-up.

METHODS

The data collection included age at time of cataract surgery, presence of associated ocular or systemic conditions, age at diagnosis of GFCS, and treatment required to control GFCS. Glaucoma diagnosis required intraocular pressure (IOP) > 21 mmHg on > 2 visits with glaucomatous optic nerve head changes and/or visual field changes, or in young children, other anatomic changes such as corneal enlargement or haze or accelerated axial elongation and myopic shift.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The incidence of GFCS was calculated. Linear regression was performed to assess the effect of age at time of cataract surgery. Analysis of risk factors and treatment modalities was performed using univariate and multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

Three hundred eighty-three eyes (260 patients) were analyzed. Median age at surgery was 52 days and median follow-up, 8 years. Glaucoma following cataract surgery was noted in 27% (104/383 eyes; median age at surgery, 45 days; median follow-up, 13 years.) Young age at surgery (< 3 months) was the greatest risk factor (P = 0.001) but the incidence was similar for infants operated in the first, second, or third month of life (25%, 36%, 40%, respectively, P = 0.4). Microcornea (41%, P < 0.0001), poorly dilating pupils (25%, P = 0.001), persistent fetal vasculature (PFV, 13%; P = 0.8), or anterior segment dysgenesis (3%, P = 0.02) were considered as additional risk factors. Surgical intervention was needed for 73% (24/33) eyes with early-onset GFCS compared with 14% (10/71) eyes with later-later onset GFCS (P < 0.0001). Medical treatment was effective in 86% with later-onset GFCS (P = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of GFCS was 27%, and timing of diagnosis occurred in a bimodal fashion. Early-onset GFCS usually requires surgical intervention; medical treatment is effective for later-onset GFCS. Cataract surgery within the first 3 months of life, microcornea, and poorly dilating pupils were major risk factors.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S)

The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Management of Contact Lenses and Visual Development in Pediatric Aphakia

Congenital cataract is among the main causes of treatable vision loss in childhood. The first weeks and months of life are a critical time for the development of vision. Therefore, early cataract surgery and effective multifaceted treatment of the resulting aphakia in the early stages of life are of great value for the management of vision development. Among the treatment models, contact lenses (CL) have an important place in infancy and early childhood up to the age of 2 years. Although good visual gains were not considered very likely, especially in unilateral aphakia, important steps have been taken in the treatment of pediatric aphakia thanks to the surgical techniques developed over time and the increasing experience with optical correction systems, especially CLs. This review examines current developments in the types of CL used in pediatric aphakia, their application features, comparison with other optical systems, the features of amblyopia treatment in the presence of CL, and the results obtained with family compliance to CL wear and occlusion therapy in the light of existing studies.

Risk Factors for Glaucoma Diagnosis and Surgical Intervention following Pediatric Cataract Surgery in the IRIS® Registry

PURPOSE

To compare demographic and clinical factors associated with glaucoma following cataract surgery (GFCS) and glaucoma surgery rates between infants, toddlers, and older children using a large, ophthalmic registry.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients in the IRIS® Registry (Intelligent Research in Sight) who underwent cataract surgery at ≤ 17 years old and between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2020.

METHODS

Glaucoma diagnosis and procedural codes were extracted from the electronic health records of practices participating in the IRIS Registry. Children with glaucoma diagnosis or surgery before cataract removal were excluded. The Kaplan-Meier estimator was used to determine the cumulative probability of GFCS diagnosis and glaucoma surgery after cataract surgery. Multivariable Cox regression was used to identify factors associated with GFCS and glaucoma surgery.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Cumulative probability of glaucoma diagnosis and surgical intervention within 5 years after cataract surgery.

RESULTS

The study included 6658 children (median age, 10.0 years; 46.2% female). The 5-year cumulative probability of GFCS was 7.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.1%-8.1%) and glaucoma surgery was 2.6% (95% CI, 1.9%-3.2%). The 5-year cumulative probability of GFCS for children aged < 1 year was 22.3% (95% CI, 15.7%-28.4%). Risk factors for GFCS included aphakia (hazard ratio [HR], 2.63; 95% CI, 1.96-3.57), unilateral cataract (HR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.12-1.96), and Black race (HR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.12-2.32). The most common surgery was glaucoma drainage device insertion (32.6%), followed by angle surgery (23.3%), cyclophotocoagulation (15.1%), and trabeculectomy (5.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

Glaucoma following cataract surgery diagnosis in children in the IRIS Registry was associated with young age, aphakia, unilateral cataract, and Black race. Glaucoma drainage device surgery was the preferred surgical treatment, consistent with the World Glaucoma Association 2013 consensus recommendations for GFCS management.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S)

Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Incidence of and risk factors for suspected and definitive glaucoma after bilateral congenital cataract surgery: a 5-year follow-up

AIMS

To report the incidence and associated risk factors for developing suspected and definitive glaucoma after bilateral congenital cataract (CC) removal with a 5-year follow-up.

METHODS

Secondary analysis of a prospective longitudinal cohort study. Bilateral CC patients who had undergone cataract surgery between January 2011 and December 2014 at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Centre were recruited. Suspected glaucoma was defined as persistent ocular hypertension requiring medical treatment. Definitive glaucoma was defined as accompanied by the progression of glaucomatous clinical features. According to postoperative lens status in 5 years follow-up: 130 eyes in the aphakia group; 219 in the primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation group and 337 in the secondary IOL implantation group. The Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression analyses were used to explore the cumulative incidence and risk factors for suspected and definitive glaucoma.

RESULTS

Three hundred fifty-one children (686 eyes) with bilateral CCs were enrolled in the study. The mean age at surgery was 1.82±2.08 years, and the mean follow-up duration was 6.26±0.97 years. Suspected and definitive glaucoma developed at a mean time of 2.84±1.75 years (range 0.02-7.33 years) postoperatively. The cumulative incidence of suspected and definitive glaucoma was 9.97% (35 of 351 patients), including 6.12% (42 eyes) for definitive glaucoma and 2.48% (17 eyes) for suspected glaucoma. Microcornea (HR 4.103, p<0.0001), CC family history (HR 3.285, p=0.001) and initial anterior vitrectomy (HR 2.365 p=0.036) were risk factors for suspected and definitive glaucoma. Gender, age at surgery, intraocular surgery frequency, length of follow-up and frequency of neodymium-doped yttrium aluminumaluminium garnet laser were non-statistically significant. Primary IOL implantation was a protective factor (HR 0.378, p=0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

Identifying suspected and definitive glaucoma after bilateral CC surgery can lower the risk of secondary blindness in children. Patients with related risk factors need to pay more attention and thus reach early intervention and treatment during clinical practice. Primary IOL implantation may be a potential protective factor, need more clinical trials to be verified.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04342052.

The prevalence of visual axis opacification in the Swedish Pediatric Cataract Register

PURPOSE

To report on the occurrence of postoperative visual axis opacification (VAO) in children younger than 5 years of age operated for cataract in Sweden, and to analyse correlations with age at surgery and surgical method.

METHODS

Data were derived from the Swedish Pediatric Cataract Register (PECARE). All children operated on between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2020 were included. Follow-ups at 1, 2 and 5 years of age were analysed.

RESULTS

Cataract surgery were performed on 770 eyes belonging to 549 children (n = 282 boys, 51.4%); 327/770 (42.5%) of the children underwent surgery before 3 months of age and 216/770 (28%) before 6 weeks of age. Data on 881 follow-up visits were registered. At the follow up-visits at 1, 2 and 5 years of age, VAO was present in 154/349 (44.1%), 41/323 (12.7%) and 25/208 (12%). The majority of the children with VAO underwent cataract surgery before age 6 months, with a predominance before age 2 months. Primary IOL was implanted in 601/770 (78%) of eyes; 40.8% had an acrylic one-piece lens, 31.8% had a bag-in-the-lens IOL, 21.9% were aphakic and 5.2% had an acrylic three-piece lens. Implantation of a bag-in-the-lens IOL was related to a significantly lower occurrence of VAO compared to other types of IOL, including aphakia (p < 0.0002).

CONCLUSION

Our results are in accordance with the literature. Primary bag-in-the-lens IOL implantation before 2 years of age seems adequate and safe, with a low occurrence of VAO, and can thus be continued as routine in Sweden.

Long-term risk of glaucoma after cataract surgery in childhood

PURPOSE

To examine the long-term risk of glaucoma after cataract surgery in childhood.

METHODS

This study took place from January 2022 until December 2022 and included patients from a large family with hereditary childhood cataract who had cataract surgery before 18 years of age. Patients underwent an ophthalmologic examination to determine the presence of glaucoma or ocular hypertension (OHT). Patients who did not want to participate in the examination could contribute with a medical journal from their treating ophthalmologist. The risk of long-term glaucoma was determined using survival analysis, and risk factors were assessed using a Cox proportional hazards regression model.

RESULTS

We included 68 patients (133 eyes) with a median age at cataract surgery of 7 years (IQR: 5-10). The median follow-up time after cataract surgery to glaucoma/OHT or the latest ophthalmologic examination was 35 years (IQR: 15-48). Twelve patients (18 eyes) had glaucoma, and five patients (eight eyes) had OHT, resulting in 15 patients with glaucoma/OHT. The long-term risk of glaucoma/OHT diagnosed in adulthood was 47.7% (CI: 21.8-70.9) at the age of 70 years of patients who were free of glaucoma before their 18th year. We could not confirm or dismiss an association between glaucoma/OHT and sex, age at surgery, number of ocular interventions before 18 years of age or glaucoma after cataract surgery in a first-degree relative.

CONCLUSION

Cataract surgery in childhood is associated with a high risk of late-onset glaucoma. Regular lifelong follow-up is important to ensure early diagnosis and prevent extensive vision loss.

Predicting the risk of glaucoma-related adverse events following secondary intraocular lens implantation in paediatric eyes: a 3-year study

AIMS

To establish and evaluate predictive models for glaucoma-related adverse events (GRAEs) following secondary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in paediatric eyes.

METHODS

205 children (356 aphakic eyes) receiving secondary IOL implantation at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center with a 3-year follow-up were enrolled. Cox proportional hazard model was used to identify predictors of GRAEs and developed nomograms. Model performance was evaluated with time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, decision curve analysis, Kaplan-Meier curves and validated internally through C-statistics and calibration plot of the bootstrap samples.

RESULTS

Older age at secondary IOL implantation (HR=1.5, 95% CI: 1.03 to 2.19), transient intraocular hypertension (HR=9.06, 95% CI: 2.97 to 27.67) and ciliary sulcus implantation (HR=14.55, 95% CI: 2.11 to 100.57) were identified as risk factors for GRAEs (all p<0.05). Two nomograms were established. At postoperatively 1, 2 and 3 years, model 1 achieved area under the ROC curves (AUCs) of 0.747 (95% CI: 0.776 to 0.935), 0.765 (95% CI: 0.804 to 0.936) and 0.748 (95% CI: 0.736 to 0.918), and the AUCs of model 2 were 0.881 (95% CI: 0.836 to 0.926), 0.895 (95% CI: 0.852 to 0.938) and 0.848 (95% CI: 0.752 to 0.945). Both models demonstrated fine clinical net benefit and performance in the interval validation. The Kaplan-Meier curves showing two distinct risk groups were well discriminated and robust in both models. An online risk calculator was constructed.

CONCLUSION

Two nomograms could sensitively and accurately identify children at high risk of GRAEs after secondary IOL implantation to help early identification and timely intervention.

Posterior Capsulotomy Size Affects the Formation of Significant Visual Axis Opacification in Congenital and Developmental Cataract

PURPOSE

To assess the relationship between posterior capsulotomy size and significant visual axis opacification (VAO) in congenital and developmental cataract.

METHODS

The charts of children aged 7 years and younger who underwent cataract surgery including primary posterior capsulotomy (PPC) and limited anterior vitrectomy between 2012 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Eyes with PPC size smaller than the anterior capsulotomy size were considered as group 1. Eyes with PPC size larger than the anterior capsulotomy size were considered as group 2. Clinical characteristics, the need for Nd:YAG laser treatment or further surgery for significant VAO, and other postoperative complications were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

Sixty eyes of 41 children were included in the study. The median age at the time of surgery was 5.5 and 3 years in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = .076). Primary intraocular lens implantation was performed in 23 (85.2%) eyes in group 1 and 25 (75.8%) eyes in group 2 (P = .364). There was no difference between the groups in terms of postoperative visual acuity (P = .983) and refractive errors (P = .154). Eight (29.6%) pseudophakic eyes received Nd:YAG laser treatment in group 1, but none of the eyes in group 2 (P = .001). Four (14.8%) eyes in group 1 and 1 (3%) eye in group 2 underwent further surgery for VAO (P = .100). The need for further intervention for significant VAO was statistically higher in group 1 (44.4% vs 3%, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Larger PPC size in pediatric cataract may reduce the need for further intervention for significant VAO. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2023;60(6):441-447.].

What we have learned from the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study: The 49th Annual Frank D. Costenbader Lecture

Unilateral congenital cataracts lead to deprivation amblyopia, which can be severe. Until the 1970s, they were believed to be always associated with poor visual outcomes. However, advances in our understanding of the plasticity of the infant brain and the development of better surgical techniques allowed good visual outcomes to be obtained in a few of these patients. The Infant Aphakia Treatment Study (IATS) was conducted to provide empirical evidence regarding the best type of optical correction to be used following surgical extraction of the cataract. Specifically, infants were randomly assigned to either be left aphakic and to wear contact lenses or an intraocular lens (IOL) was implanted and the residual refractive error was corrected with spectacles. The study found that good visual acuity and stereopsis could be achieved in some patients in both treatment groups. Early cataract surgery, consistent optical correction and part-time patching of the fellow eye are important elements needed to achieve good visual outcomes. However, excess patching of the fellow eye may interfere with the development of stereopsis. More adverse events occurred after IOL implantation, particularly visual axis opacification, compared with the infants who were left aphakic. Glaucoma-related adverse events occurred in 40% of eyes after a 10-year follow-up and were not associated with IOL implantation. Further research is needed to increase the percentage of children with unilateral congenital cataracts who achieve good visual outcomes.

Conversion to Glaucoma in Pediatric Glaucoma Suspects

PRCIS

In this retrospective review of pediatric glaucoma suspects, 11.5% of eyes progressed to glaucoma over an average of 6.5 years; eyes with ocular hypertension had an 18-fold increased risk of progression compared with eyes with suspicious disc appearance.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to describe the rate of progression to glaucoma of a large cohort of pediatric glaucoma suspects at a quaternary academic center.

DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

PARTICIPANTS

One thousand three hundred seventy-five eyes (824 individuals) followed as pediatric glaucoma suspects at the Wilmer Eye Institute between 2005 and 2016.

METHODS

Retrospective study of pediatric patients monitored as glaucoma suspects at the Wilmer Eye Institute between 2005 and 2016.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Progression to glaucoma, defined according to Childhood Glaucoma Research Network criteria or by surgical intervention; initiation of intraocular pressure-lowering therapy.

RESULTS

One hundred fifty-eight (11.5%) eyes from 109 unique patients met the criteria for conversion to glaucoma during follow-up; rates of conversion ranged between 34.1% for eyes monitored for ocular hypertension, 16.2% for eyes with prior lensectomy, 12.1% for eyes monitored for other ocular risk factors, 2.4% for eyes with suspicious disc appearance, and 0.4% for eyes monitored for systemic risk factors. The first criterion met for conversion to glaucoma was ocular hypertension in 149 eyes (94.3%) and enlarged cup-to-disc ratio (CDR) in 9 eyes (5.7%); the most common second criterion met was the enlargement of CDR since initial presentation (45 eyes, 28.5%), surgical intervention (33 eyes, 20.9%), visual field changes (21 eyes, 13.3%), and asymmetric CDR change compared with fellow eye (20 eyes, 12.7%). The Kaplan-Meier survival curves across the different indications for being monitored as a glaucoma suspect significantly differed ( P <0.0001). Eyes being monitored for ocular hypertension had an 18-fold increased risk of conversion to glaucoma than those followed for suspicious disc appearance [hazard ratio (HR) 18.33, 95% CI, 10.05-33.41). Eyes monitored for prior lensectomy and for other ocular risk factors had a 6-fold and 5-fold increased risk of conversion to glaucoma than those followed for suspicious disc appearance, respectively (HR: 6.20, 95% CI, 3.66-10.51; HR: 5.43, 95% CI, 3.00-9.84). Eyes followed for ocular hypertension were nearly 4 times more likely to convert to glaucoma than those followed for prior lensectomy (HR: 3.72, 95% CI, 2.28-6.07).

CONCLUSIONS

Eyes being followed as pediatric glaucoma suspects for ocular hypertension had higher rates of progression to glaucoma than eyes being monitored for prior lensectomy, other ocular risk factors, suspicious disc appearance, or systemic risk factors.

Management of childhood cataract: practice patterns among ophthalmologists in Nigeria

OBJECTIVE

To describe the practice patterns for the management of paediatric cataracts among ophthalmologists practising in Nigeria.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of fully trained Nigerian ophthalmologists who perform cataract surgery in children aged 16 years and below. An online questionnaire was distributed via e-mail and social media platforms to respondents. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, type, location and years of practice, status and preferred approach to management of childhood cataracts were obtained and analysed.

RESULTS

A total of 41 ophthalmologists responded that they perform paediatric cataract surgery. Of these, 25 (61.0%) were paediatric ophthalmologists while 7 (17.0%) were general ophthalmologists. Most respondents (92.7%) practise in urban settings and 30 (73.2%) work in tertiary hospitals. Most respondents (90.2%) routinely insert intraocular lenses (IOLs) in children aged 2 years and above while 32 (78.0%) routinely under-correct the IOL power. Thirty-four (82.9%) have an anterior vitrectomy machine, 31 (75.6%) routinely perform posterior capsulotomy and anterior vitrectomy, and 17 (58.5%) routinely perform same-day sequential bilateral cataract surgery. Twenty-six (63.4%) respondents routinely give near correction in aphakic children, while 24 (58.5%) respondents routinely give bifocals in pseudophakic children. Compared to other sub-specialists, paediatric ophthalmologists were 24 times more likely to routinely under-correct IOL power (p = 0.001) and 4 times more likely to routinely correct near vision in aphakic children (0.036) as well as prescribe bifocals for pseudophakic children respectively (0.029).

CONCLUSION

The practice of paediatric cataract surgery in Nigeria is mainly in line with expected standards, but there is a need for the development of detailed practice guidelines.

Outcome measures in childhood glaucoma: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

PURPOSE

To synthesize the outcome measures used by randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for childhood glaucoma.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Scopus were searched from inception to February 17, 2023. Randomized controlled trials and observational studies related to childhood glaucoma were included. Primary and secondary outcomes were extracted and the data was used to generate a literature review.

RESULTS

This review identified 42 unique reports pertaining to childhood glaucomas. Most of the studies originated from Egypt, India, and the USA. Intraocular pressure (IOP) outcomes were the most frequent outcomes studied, followed by clinical outcomes and safety outcomes. Clinical outcomes were the most common secondary outcomes studied, followed by IOP outcomes and safety outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review found heterogenous outcomes with IOP outcomes as the most studied primary outcome. As the remaining outcomes were not consistently utilized, this review highlights the need for a consensus on studies of pediatric glaucoma.

Paediatric cataract surgery with 27G vitrectomy instrumentation: the Ghent University Hospital Experience

Objective

To describe a cohort of paediatric patients who underwent unilateral or bilateral lens extractions at Ghent University hospital using the Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center (D.O.R.C.) ultra-short 27G vitrectomy system.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of the medical and surgical records of all children that underwent lens extraction between September 2016 and September 2020 using the D.O.R.C. ultra-short 27G vitrectomy system.

Results

Seventy-two eyes of 52 patients were included. The most important aetiologies in this study were of secondary (25.5%), developmental (13.7%), or genetic (13.7%) nature. No definitive cause could be established in more than a quarter of cases (27.5%) despite extensive work-up, them being deemed idiopathic. The remainder of cases (19.6%) was not assigned a final aetiologic designation at the time of the study due to contradicting or missing diagnostic data. This study could not identify any cataract cases related to infection or trauma. Surgical complications rate was 61.1% of which posterior capsule opacification was the most frequent with a rate of 25%. A significant short-term postoperative best-corrected visual acuity gain (≤ -0.2 LogMAR) was observed in 60.5% of eyes for which usable acuity data were available (n = 38).

Conclusion

Many different instruments and techniques have been described and used in the context of paediatric lens extractions, each with its advantages and disadvantages. This study illustrates that an ultra-short 27G vitrectomy system can be used to perform paediatric lens extractions with good surgical outcomes. Further studies and comparative trials are needed to ascertain this further.

Complications Occurring Through 5 Years Following Primary Intraocular Lens Implantation for Pediatric Cataract

Importance

Lensectomy with primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation is often used in the management of nontraumatic pediatric cataract, but long-term data evaluating the association of age and IOL location with the incidence of complications are limited.

Objective

To describe the incidence of complications and additional eye surgeries through 5 years following pediatric lensectomy with primary IOL implantation and association with age at surgery and IOL location.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This prospective cohort study used Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group cataract registry data from 61 institution- and community-based practices over 3 years (June 2012 to July 2015). Participants were children younger than 13 years without baseline glaucoma who had primary IOL implantation (345 bilateral and 264 unilateral) for nontraumatic cataract. Data analysis was performed between September 2021 and January 2023.

Exposures

Lensectomy with primary IOL implantation.

Main Outcome and Measures

Five-year cumulative incidence of complications by age at surgery (<2 years, 2 to <4 years, 4 to <7 years, and 7 to <13 years) and by IOL location (sulcus vs capsular bag) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

The cohort included 609 eyes from 491 children (mean [SD] age, 5.6 [3.3] years; 261 [53%] male and 230 [47%] female). Following cataract extraction with primary IOL implantation, a frequent complication was surgery for visual axis opacification (VAO) (cumulative incidence, 32%; 95% CI, 27%-36%). Cumulative incidence was lower with anterior vitrectomy at the time of IOL placement (12%; 95% CI, 8%-16%) vs without (58%; 95% CI, 50%-65%), and the risk of undergoing surgery for VAO was associated with not performing anterior vitrectomy (hazard ratio [HR], 6.19; 95% CI, 3.70-10.34; P < .001). After adjusting for anterior vitrectomy at lens surgery, there were no differences in incidence of surgery for VAO by age at surgery (<2 years, HR, 1.35 [95% CI, 0.63-2.87], 2 to <4 years, HR, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.44-1.68], 4 to <7 years, HR, 1.06 [95% CI, 0.72-1.56]; P = .74) or by capsular bag vs sulcus IOL fixation (HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.36-4.17; P = .75). Cumulative incidence of glaucoma plus glaucoma suspect by 5 years was 7% (95% CI, 4%-9%), which did not differ by age after controlling for IOL location and laterality.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study, a frequent complication following pediatric lensectomy with primary IOL was surgery for VAO, which was associated with primary anterior vitrectomy not being performed but was not associated with age at surgery or IOL location. The risk of glaucoma development across all ages at surgery suggests a need for long-term monitoring.

Prevalence of Glaucoma Following Paediatric Cataract Surgery in an Australian Tertiary Referral Centre

Purpose

Secondary glaucoma following childhood cataract surgery remains the most common complication in the paediatric population. This study aimed to determine the incidence, time to progression and risk factors associated with the development of secondary glaucoma following childhood cataract surgery in a paediatric population. Outcome measures were the detection of secondary glaucoma, postoperative time frame to development of glaucoma and risk factors in its development.

Patients and Methods

A retrospective case series was conducted between 2003 and 2017 at a tertiary children's hospital in Sydney. The patient population included those 16 years or less of age who underwent congenital cataract extraction, with or without an intraocular lens implantation and who had been followed up for a minimum of six months following surgery. Patients were excluded if they had cataract aetiology other than congenital idiopathic cataract. Multivariate Cox Regression analysis was used to determine relevant risk factors.

Results

A total of 320 eyes in 216 patients were included in the study. Secondary glaucoma developed in 11.9% of eyes. In those that developed secondary glaucoma, the average time to onset from surgery was 3.2 years (median 2.75 years). The mean age of diagnosis of secondary glaucoma was 4.58 years (median 3.5 years, range 2.5 months to 13.23 years). Microcornea was the only adverse characteristic significantly associated with an increased risk of secondary glaucoma (HR 6.30, p 0.003).

Conclusion

Despite modern surgical techniques, glaucoma remains a significant long-term sequela in children following cataract surgery.

Incidence of Glaucoma-Related Adverse Events in the First 5 Years After Pediatric Lensectomy

Importance

Glaucoma can develop following cataract removal in children.

Objective

To assess the cumulative incidence of glaucoma-related adverse events (defined as glaucoma or glaucoma suspect) and factors associated with risk of these adverse events in the first 5 years after lensectomy prior to 13 years of age.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study used longitudinal registry data collected at enrollment and annually for 5 years from 45 institutional and 16 community sites. Participants were children aged 12 years or younger with at least 1 office visit after lensectomy from June 2012 to July 2015. Data were analyzed from February through December 2022.

Exposures

Usual clinical care after lensectomy.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The main outcomes were cumulative incidence of glaucoma-related adverse events and baseline factors associated with risk of these adverse events.

Results

The study included 810 children (1049 eyes); 443 eyes of 321 children (55% female; mean [SD] age, 0.89 [1.97] years) were aphakic after lensectomy, and 606 eyes of 489 children (53% male; mean [SD] age, 5.65 [3.32] years) were pseudophakic. The 5-year cumulative incidence of glaucoma-related adverse events was 29% (95% CI, 25%-34%) in 443 eyes with aphakia and 7% (95% CI, 5%-9%) in 606 eyes with pseudophakia; 7% (95% CI, 5%-10%) of aphakic eyes and 3% (95% CI, 2%-5%) of pseudophakic eyes were diagnosed as glaucoma suspect. Among aphakic eyes, a higher risk for glaucoma-related adverse events was associated with 4 of 8 factors, including age less than 3 months (vs ≥3 months: adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.88; 99% CI, 1.57-5.23), abnormal anterior segment (vs normal: aHR, 2.88; 99% CI, 1.56-5.30), intraoperative complications at time of lensectomy (vs none; aHR, 2.25; 99% CI, 1.04-4.87), and bilaterality (vs unilaterality: aHR, 1.88; 99% CI, 1.02-3.48). Neither of the 2 factors evaluated for pseudophakic eyes, laterality and anterior vitrectomy, were associated with risk of glaucoma-related adverse events.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study, glaucoma-related adverse events were common after cataract surgery in children; age less than 3 months at surgery was associated with elevated risk of the adverse events in aphakic eyes. Children with pseudophakia, who were older at surgery, less frequently developed a glaucoma-related adverse event within 5 years of lensectomy. The findings suggest that ongoing monitoring for the development of glaucoma is needed after lensectomy at any age.

Preoperative central corneal thickness in eyes with pediatric cataract versus normal fellow eyes

PURPOSE

To compare the preoperative central corneal thickness (CCT) in eyes with unilateral cataract with their normal fellow eyes in the pediatric population.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was conducted using the STORM Kids cataract database. Eyes with traumatic cataract, previous surgery or therapeutic manipulation, or age >18 years were excluded. Only eyes with a normal fellow eye were included. The intraocular pressure, age at time of surgery, race, sex, and type of cataract were also extracted from the record.

RESULTS

A total of 70 eyes with unilateral cataract and 70 fellow normal eyes met inclusion criteria. The mean age at the time of surgery was 3.35 years (range, 0.08-15.05). The mean preoperative CCT in the operated eyes was 577 ± 58 μm (range, 464-898 μm). The mean preoperative CCT in fellow eyes was 570 ± 35 μm (range, 485-643 μm). There was no statistically significant difference between the preoperative CCT in cataract eyes versus unaffected fellow eyes (P = 0.183). When stratified by age, the difference in the CCT between cataract and fellow eyes was greatest in the <1 year age group, but was not statistically significant (P = 0.236). The mean preoperative corneal diameter of operative eyes was 11.0 mm (range, 5.5-12.5 mm [n = 68]). The mean preoperative IOP was 15.1 mm Hg (n = 66).

CONCLUSIONS

In our study cohort, there was no significant difference in mean preoperative CCT between unilateral pediatric cataract eyes and unaffected fellow eyes.

Late-onset glaucoma following congenital cataract surgery: Occurrence, visual acuity and risk factors: A 37-year longitudinal follow-up

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of late-onset glaucoma after surgery for congenital cataract in a cohort with long-term follow-up and to evaluate visual development following the diagnosis of postoperative glaucoma in comparison with no glaucoma development.

METHODS

All children born between 1980 and 1997 in the western counties of Sweden who had undergone congenital cataract surgery were included (patients n = 77, eyes n = 122). Cataract was considered congenital if there was no proof of clear lens at birth. Medical records were reviewed with regard to onset of glaucoma, age at surgery, surgical technique, coexisting eye anomalies and changes in visual acuity. Glaucoma was considered late onset if occurring after 1 year following surgery.

RESULTS

Total glaucoma prevalence was 14.8%, including late (10.7%) and early onset (4.1%), with a mean follow-up of 23.2 ± 6.6 years. Microphthalmos was a significant risk factor for developing glaucoma (RR 7.75, p < 0.001). Bilaterally treated eyes had a mean visual acuity of 0.43 ± 0.33 (decimal value) at the last follow-up. With glaucoma, mean visual acuity was 0.19 ± 0.17 (decimal value). Treated eyes of patients with unilateral cataract surgery had a lower visual acuity.

CONCLUSIONS

Life-long follow-up of all patients who have undergone surgery for congenital cataract in childhood is recommended. Annual check-ups of adults, including measurements of IOP and visual acuity, are recommended for patients with microphthalmos and/or who had surgery <3 months of age.

Analysis of age at detection and outcomes of dense unilateral congenital cataract surgery for children on the paediatric cataract register

AIM

Analysis of age at time of detection and surgery of dense unilateral cataract and investigation of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in a nationwide register-based cohort study, based on the routine of maternity ward eye screening.

METHODS

Data were derived from the Paediatric Cataract Register (PECARE). All children (n = 54) diagnosed with dense congenital unilateral cataract between January 2007 and September 2014 who had surgery before 1 year of age, and for whom 5-year follow-up records were available, were included.

RESULTS

The majority, 35/54 (65%), were detected and operated on before age 6 weeks and 30/35 (86%) were referred from maternity wards. Visual acuity (VA) ≥ 0.5 (decimal, 0.3 logMAR) was found in 7/53 (13%) of the cohort at age 5 years; further, 19 children achieved VA ≥ 0.1 (decimal, 1.0 logMAR) (36%) and 19 children VA < 0.05 (decimal, 1.30 logMAR) (36%). Ten-year follow-up records were available for 17/53 (32%) children; 1/17 (6%) achieved VA ≥ 0.5 (decimal, 0.3 logMAR), 4/17 (24%) VA ≥ 0.3-<0.5 (decimal, 0.52-0.30 logMAR), 3/17 (18%) VA ≥ 0.05-0.1 (decimal, 1.30-1.0 logMAR) and 10/17 (59%) VA < 0.05 (decimal, 1.30 logMAR).

CONCLUSION

A total of 90% of the children were detected with cataract within 100 days of birth and 80% were operated on within this period. This study showed better visual acuity in those treated for dense unilateral cataracts than previously reported in an earlier Swedish cohort study.

Primary versus secondary intraocular lens implantation following removal of congenital/de al of congenital/developmental catar elopmental cataracts: outcomes after acts: outcomes after at least 4 years

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term outcomes of primary and secondary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation following removal of congenital/developmental cataracts.

METHODS

One hundred and forty-four patients aged under 16 years who were followed up between 2003 and 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. The long-term results of children who underwent surgery before 2 years of age for congenital or developmental cataracts and underwent secondary IOL implantation after 2 years of age and those who underwent cataract surgery with primary IOL implantation after 2 years of age were compared. Patients with traumatic, secondary cataracts and cataracts due to ocular anomalies were not included in the study.

RESULTS

We evaluated 64 patients (mean age 9.5 ± 4.5 years) with secondary IOL implantation and 80 patients (mean age 12.8 ± 4.1 years) with primary IOL implantation in the study. Distance and near best-corrected visual acuities were significantly better in the primary IOL group than the secondary IOL group (p < 0.001). Incidence of strabismus after primary IOL surgery was significantly lower and presence of binocular vision was more often than the secondary IOL group (p = 0.002). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of refraction and myopic shift (p = 0.242, p = 0.172, respectively). Mean refractive changes were significant in unilateral cases of secondary IOL group and primary IOL group (p = 0.013, p = 0.049, respectively) and myopic shift was also greater in both groups of unilateral cases than the fellow eyes (p = 0.023, p = 0.012, respectively).

DISCUSSION

Visual outcomes and binocular vision were better, and the incidence of strabismus was also much less in the primary IOL group.

Nationwide Incidence of Infantile Cataract Surgery and Risk of Secondary Glaucoma in a Population-based Birth Cohort

PURPOSE

To determine the nationwide birth cohort incidence of infantile cataract (IC) surgery and the risk of secondary glaucoma in a Korean population.

DESIGN

A population-based, retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

We accessed the Korean National Health Claims database to identify patients with IC who were diagnosed before 1 year of age and who underwent IC surgery among all Koreans born between 2008 and 2018 (n = 9,593,003). We estimated IC surgery incidence in a birth cohort. The incidence rates of post-IC surgery glaucoma were estimated per 100 person-years, based on the Poisson distribution. The risk factors for post-IC surgery glaucoma, including ophthalmic and systemic comorbidities, were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

During the 11-year study period, 692 patients underwent IC surgery. The annual birth cohort incidence of IC surgery in the general population ranged from 5.10 to 9.29 cases per 100,000 individuals. Among patients who had been followed up for longer than 1 year (n = 650), 92 (14.2%) developed glaucoma, and its incidence rate was 2.29 (95% confidence interval, 1.86-2.80) per 100 person-years. The mean time from IC surgery to glaucoma development was 4.7 ± 3.5 years. No factors were identified as being associated with post-IC surgery glaucoma risk other than primary or secondary intraocular lens implantation, which reduces the risk (all P < .05). In patients without primary intraocular lens implantation, the risk of glaucoma increased steeply during the first 2 years after IC surgery.

CONCLUSION

This study identified the birth cohort incidence of IC surgery and secondary glaucoma risk in individuals of East Asian ethnicity. These estimates may help to better understand the epidemiologic features and clinical courses of patients with IC.

A Comprehensive Review of Pediatric Glaucoma Following Cataract Surgery and Progress in Treatment

Glaucoma following cataract surgery (GFCS) remains a serious postoperative complication of pediatric cataract surgery. Various risk factors, including age at lensectomy, intraocular lens implantation, posterior capsule status, associated ocular/systemic anomaly, additional intraocular surgery, and a family history of congenital cataract and GFCS, have been reported. However, the optimal surgical approach remains unclear. This review evaluates the diagnostic criteria, classification, risk factors, mechanism, and surgical management, especially the efficacy of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, in GFCS, and aims to propose an optimal clinical management strategy for GFCS. The results of our review indicate that ab interno trabeculotomy (goniotomy) may be the most appropriate first-line treatment for GFCS.

Late surgery for unilateral persistent fetal vasculature: long-term visual and anatomic outcomes

BACKGROUND

Persistent fetal vasculature (PFV) is a congenital anomaly caused by failure of the ocular vasculature to regress. We report the visual and anatomic outcomes in patients who underwent surgery for PFV between 7-48 months of age.

METHODS

The medical records of patients who underwent lensectomy and anterior or core vitrectomy for unilateral PFV, with or without intraocular lens implantation, were reviewed retrospectively. Inclusion criteria were surgery between 7-48 months of age and at least 12 months of follow-up. Patients with severe posterior segment involvement were excluded. The primary outcome was the final visual acuity using age-appropriate tests converted to logMAR. Secondary outcomes included the rate of adverse events and number of subsequent intraocular procedures.

RESULTS

A total of 20 patients with a mean age at surgery of 19.3 ± 10.5 months and mean follow-up of 73.7 ± 46.7 months were included. Sixteen patients had delayed surgery due to late presentation; the remaining 4 were managed initially with refractive correction and occlusion. Eight patients (40%) achieved a final visual acuity better than 1.0 logMAR. Four eyes had adverse events, including one retinal detachment. No patient developed glaucoma. Four eyes underwent subsequent procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study cohort, surgery for unilateral PFV between 7-48 months of age achieved functional visual acuity in over one-third of patients. This is comparable to results achieved with surgery before 7 months of age, but with fewer adverse events. Differences in disease severity could account for later PFV presentation and surgery as well as outcomes.

Anterior segment optical coherence tomography findings in the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study (IATS): a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial

PURPOSE

To correlate the diagnosis of glaucoma among children in the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study (IATS) by age 10 years with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) findings.

METHODS

A multicenter randomized controlled trial of 114 infants with unilateral congenital cataract who were 1-6 months of age at surgery. Data on long-term glaucoma-related status and outcomes were collected when children were 10.5 years old. Participants were randomized at cataract surgery to either primary intraocular lens (IOL) or no IOL implantation (contact lens [CL]). AS-OCT findings in eyes with glaucoma were compared to eyes which did not have glaucoma and to the fellow eyes, between fellow and treated eyes, and between the IOL and CL groups.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in the mean nasal and temporal anterior chamber angle (ACA) or mean nasal and temporal angle opening distance (AOD) for nonglaucomatous, glaucomatous, and fellow eyes (P = 0.31, 0.16, 0.43, 0.08 resp.). There were also no significant differences in mean nasal and temporal ACA and AOD between fellow and treated eyes (P = 0.44, 0.67, 0.57, 0.38 resp.), or between IOL and CL groups (P = 0.36, 0.35, 0.49, 0.44, resp.).

CONCLUSIONS

AS-OCT confirmed that eyes with glaucoma in IATS had predominantly open angles with similar ACA and AOD to eyes without glaucoma and to fellow eyes. Furthermore, congenital cataract surgery with or without an IOL did not result in a significant difference in ACA or AOD compared to fellow eyes in IATS.

Outcomes of unilateral cataract surgery in children 2-7 years of age: a comparison to surgery in toddlers and infants

PURPOSE

To compare outcomes of unilateral cataract surgery in children aged 2-7 years with the outcomes reported in younger children.

METHODS

The medical records of patients who underwent unilateral cataract surgery between the ages of 2-7 years were reviewed retrospectively. Traumatic cataracts and ectopia lentis were excluded. Outcomes were compared to those of the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study (IATS) for infants up to 7 months of age and the Toddler Aphakia and Pseudophakia Study (TAPS) for toddlers between 7-24 months of age who underwent unilateral cataract surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 68 children were included, with a mean follow-up of 4.3 years. The proportion of intraoperative complications (7%) was significantly lower than that reported in IATS but not significantly different from that of TAPS. In our older cohort, more children (41%) had visual acuity better than 20/40 compared to infants (23% [P < 0.05]) and toddlers (11% [P < 0.001]), with a final median visual acuity of 20/44. The proportion of adverse events in our older cohort was reduced (7%) compared to that of infants (81%) and toddlers (24%). Additional unplanned intraocular surgeries occurred less often (6%) than in the infant cohort (72%). No patients developed glaucoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Cataract surgery in slightly older children carries less risk of vision-threatening complications and adverse events compared to infants and results in better visual outcomes than in toddlers. Once the decision is made to pursue surgery on a visually significant cataract, the age of the child should determine which relevant risks are emphasized in the informed consent discussion.

Predictors for elevation of Intraocular Pressure (IOP) on glaucoma patients; a retrospective cohort study design

OBJECTIVE

Because of the increase in the number of cases, currently, glaucoma is a significant public health issue that it leads to optic nerve damage and vision loss. High Intraocular Pressure reading indicates that the treatment given to a glaucoma patient is not sufficient/ adequate. Hence, the elevation of intraocular pressure is one of the indicators that, the therapy given to glaucoma patients under treatment is inadequate. Therefore, the main objective of the current study was to investigate predictors for the variation of elevation of IOP readings on glaucoma patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective cohort study design was conducted on 1254 glaucoma patients, whose followed-ups were from September 2015 to August 2016 at Felege Hiwot Teaching and Specialized Hospital, North West Ethiopia. Data analysis was conducted using Statistical Analysis of Systems (SAS) software version 9.2 and AMOS software. The parameter estimation was conducted using the maximum likelihood estimation technique.

RESULTS

Main effects like age (β = 0.01, t-value = 0.15, p-value = 0.018), patients with normal blood pressure (β = -3.35, t-value = -2.28, p-value = 0.0263), patients without diabetics (β = -3.79, t-value = -2.47, p-value = 0.014), visiting times (β = -6.00, t-value = -5.02, p-value = 0.0001), farmer glaucoma patients (β = -6.04, t-value = 3.87, p-value = 0.0001) had significant and indirect effect for the variation of elevation of IOP on glaucoma patients. Interaction effects like visiting time with existence of diabetes, visiting time with cataract surgery significantly effected on the variable of interest. Hence, both main and interaction effects had significant effects on the variable of interest. This study had identified socio-demographic characteristics, personal/individual behaviors, and clinical factors for the variation of elevation of IOP. The findings, in the current investigation, help health staff to conduct health-related education for awareness creation. Health-related education, about the progression of glaucoma, should be conducted on patients.

Experiences of Treatment With Contact Lenses in Aphakic Children With Unilateral Congenital Cataract: A Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Congenital cataract is a condition compromising the eye's crystalline lens in infants and is usually diagnosed at birth. It can lead to irreversible vision loss if not promptly detected and treated, especially in unilateral cases. Nowadays, children with congenital cataracts can undergo surgical removal of their opacified crystalline lenses, and visual rehabilitation is mandatory to prevent deep amblyopia. Contact lenses, predominantly of rigid gas-permeable (GP) type, are gaining more popularity for this matter.

METHOD

In this retrospective cohort study, unilateral aphakic children younger than 6 years referred to the Contact Lens Clinic at Farabi Eye Hospital from November 2011 to September 2019 were included.

RESULTS

Seventy-six unilateral aphakic children with congenital cataracts (57.9% boys and 42.1% girls) rehabilitated with GP were studied. The mean age of diagnosis and referral to the contact lens clinic were 20.0±19.8 and 32.0±24.4 weeks, respectively, while the mean follow-up time was 12.44±26.28 months. The mean visual acuity for children capable of cooperating at the last follow-up was 0.98±0.62 log MAR. Among the participants, eight children (9.7%) were diagnosed as glaucoma suspects. The mean initial base curve and power of GP lenses were 7.86±0.39 mm and 23.29±5.52 diopters, respectively. Only 21 parents (27.6%) reported nonadherence to the scheduled part-time patch program.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study showed GP-based optical treatment after early diagnosis, surgical removal of congenital cataracts, and a long-term close follow-up to be well tolerated by children and their parents, with acceptable parents' compliance and can thus be introduced as a safe and effective method to achieve desirable visual outcomes.

Glaucoma and risk factors three years after congenital cataract surgery

Background

This study aimed to identify the incidence of and risk factors for postoperative glaucoma-related adverse events at various time points after congenital cataract surgery.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study enrolled 259 eyes from 174 patients (surgical age ≤ 7 years) who underwent congenital cataract surgery. All surgical procedures were conducted at the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between May 2011 and March 2019. Patients were classified into group 1 [primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, N = 111 eyes], group 2 (secondary IOL implantation, N = 85 eyes), and group 3 (no IOL implantation, N = 63 eyes). We recorded demographic factors and incidence and risk factors for glaucoma-related adverse events.

Results

Glaucoma-related adverse events occurred in 21 (8.1%) eyes, whereas 27 (10.4%) eyes developed steroid-induced ocular hypertension. The percentage of glaucoma-related adverse events was 0%, 1.2%, 1.2%, 1.6%, 4.0%, and 8.9% at 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years and 4 years after surgery, respectively. Sixteen (18.8%), five (7.9%), and zero eyes developed glaucoma-related adverse events in groups 2, 3, and 1, respectively. Family history of congenital cataract [hazard ratio (HR), 50.463; 95% confidence interval (CI), 7.051–361.139; P < 0.001], preoperative central corneal thickness (CCT) [HR, 1.021; 95% CI, 1.009–1.034; P = 0.001], preoperative horizontal corneal diameter (HCD) [HR, 3.922; 95% CI, 1.558–9.804; P = 0.004], and preoperative lens thickness (LT) [HR, 3.745; 95% CI, 1.344–10.417; P = 0.012] were identified as predictors of postoperative glaucoma-related adverse events.

Conclusions

Family history of congenital cataract, thicker preoperative CCT, smaller preoperative HCD, and thinner preoperative LT are the main risk factors of postoperative glaucoma-related adverse events. Regular monitoring of children after cataract surgery with these risk factors may help ophthalmologists detect susceptible individuals and provide timely interventions in the clinic.

Results of childhood glaucoma surgery over a long-term period

PURPOSE

To evaluate long-term results of glaucoma surgery in newborn and infants with glaucoma.

METHODS

Seventy-nine eyes of 52 children (age: 3 weeks-15.3 years) with primary congenital or secondary glaucoma treated between 2015 and 2017 were included. The median follow-up time was 3.9 years. Conventional probe trabeculotomy, 360° catheter-assisted trabeculotomy, filtering and cyclodestructive surgery were compared. Strict criteria for surgical success were applied: Complete surgical success (IOP below target IOP, no further surgery) and incomplete surgical success (additional surgery allowed) were analyzed, and IOP at baseline and last follow-up was compared.

RESULTS

Intraocular pressure (IOP) was significantly reduced in primary congenital (preoperative IOP: 27.8 ± 7.5 mmHg vs. postoperative IOP: 14.2 ± 4.5 mmHg) and secondary glaucoma (preoperative IOP: 29.2 ± 9.1 mmHg vs. postoperative IOP: 16.6 ± 4.7 mmHg). 90% of all eyes reached target IOP with or without medication allowing for additional surgeries. As first surgery, 360° catheter-assisted trabeculotomy had a tendency to higher surgical success than other surgical approaches, while cyclodestructive procedures had lowest.

CONCLUSIONS

We found very promising surgical results in our childhood glaucoma patient group. Surgical success in both congenital and secondary glaucoma was high.

Visual Acuity and Ophthalmic Outcomes 5 Years After Cataract Surgery Among Children Younger Than 13 Years

IMPORTANCE

Cataract is an important cause of visual impairment in children. Data from a large pediatric cataract surgery registry can provide real-world estimates of visual outcomes and the 5-year cumulative incidence of adverse events.

OBJECTIVE

To assess visual acuity (VA), incidence of complications and additional eye operations, and refractive error outcomes 5 years after pediatric lensectomy among children younger than 13 years.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This prospective cohort study used data from the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group clinical research registry. From June 2012 to July 2015, 61 eye care practices in the US, Canada, and the UK enrolled children from birth to less than 13 years of age who had undergone lensectomy for any reason during the preceding 45 days. Data were collected from medical record reviews annually thereafter for 5 years until September 28, 2020.

EXPOSURES

Lensectomy with or without implantation of an intraocular lens (IOL).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Best-corrected VA and refractive error were measured from 4 to 6 years after the initial lensectomy. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess the 5-year incidence of glaucoma or glaucoma suspect and additional eye operations. Factors were evaluated separately for unilateral and bilateral aphakia and pseudophakia.

RESULTS

A total of 994 children (1268 eyes) undergoing bilateral or unilateral lensectomy were included (504 [51%] male; median age, 3.6 years; range, 2 weeks to 12.9 years). Five years after the initial lensectomy, the median VA among 701 eyes with available VA data (55%) was 20/63 (range, 20/40 to 20/100) in 182 of 316 bilateral aphakic eyes (58%), 20/32 (range, 20/25 to 20/50) in 209 of 386 bilateral pseudophakic eyes (54%), 20/200 (range, 20/50 to 20/618) in 124 of 202 unilateral aphakic eyes (61%), and 20/65 (range, 20/32 to 20/230) in 186 of 364 unilateral pseudophakic eyes (51%). The 5-year cumulative incidence of glaucoma or glaucoma suspect was 46% (95% CI, 28%-59%) in participants with bilateral aphakia, 7% (95% CI, 1%-12%) in those with bilateral pseudophakia, 25% (95% CI, 15%-34%) in those with unilateral aphakia, and 17% (95% CI, 5%-28%) in those with unilateral pseudophakia. The most common additional eye surgery was clearing the visual axis, with a 5-year cumulative incidence of 13% (95% CI, 8%-17%) in participants with bilateral aphakia, 33% (95% CI, 26%-39%) in those with bilateral pseudophakia, 11% (95% CI, 6%-15%) in those with unilateral aphakia, and 34% (95% CI, 28%-39%) in those with unilateral pseudophakia. The median 5-year change in spherical equivalent refractive error was -8.38 D (IQR, -11.38 D to -2.75 D) among 89 bilateral aphakic eyes, -1.63 D (IQR, -3.13 D to -0.25 D) among 130 bilateral pseudophakic eyes, -10.75 D (IQR, -20.50 D to -4.50 D) among 43 unilateral aphakic eyes, and -1.94 D (IQR, -3.25 D to -0.69 D) among 112 unilateral pseudophakic eyes.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this cohort study, development of glaucoma or glaucoma suspect was common in children 5 years after lensectomy. Myopic shift was modest during the 5 years after placement of an intraocular lens, which should be factored into implant power selection. These results support frequent monitoring after pediatric cataract surgery to detect glaucoma, visual axis obscuration causing reduced vision, and refractive error.

Approach to childhood glaucoma: A review

Childhood glaucoma represents a heterogenous group of rare ocular conditions that may result in significant sight threatening complications related to elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). It can be classified as either primary or secondary and the latter may have systemic associations. This review will be based on the work of the childhood glaucoma research network (CGRN) and will focus on the diagnosis and management of the most common types of childhood glaucoma. These include primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) and juvenile open angle glaucoma (JOAG) as well as secondary causes of glaucoma associated with non-acquired ocular anomalies (Axenfeld-Rieger anomaly; Peters anomaly and Aniridia), glaucoma associated with systemic disease (Sturge Weber syndrome and Neurofibromatosis), those due to acquired conditions (Uveitic glaucoma, trauma and tumours) and importantly glaucoma following cataract surgery.

Incidence and risk factors of glaucoma after surgery for congenital cataract diagnosed under one year of age: Protocol for Korean Nationwide Epidemiological Study for Childhood Glaucoma (KoNEC)

Introduction

Congenital cataract (CC) can cause childhood visual impairment, even after CC surgery, due to subsequent occurrence of glaucoma. The post-CC-surgery glaucoma study results vary, due largely to the lack of a sufficient number of population-based cohort studies. This study herein proposed aims to assess the incidence and risk factors of post-CC-surgery glaucoma in a nationwide cohort. The clinico-demographic factors associated with outcomes of post-CC-surgery glaucoma will be investigated as well.

Materials and methods

This population-based, nested case-control study is planned as part of the Korean Nationwide Epidemiological Study for Childhood Glaucoma (KoNEC). Data for a nationwide retrospective cohort representative of the years 2008 to 2018 will be extracted from the National Institutes of Health database, which includes demographic information, diagnoses and medical visits as well as procedures, records of prescriptions, and comorbidities. Among the patients whose first CC diagnosis was made before age 1, only those who underwent surgery for CC will be included in the study. The rate of occurrence of post-CC-surgery glaucoma will be determined based on a Poisson distribution. Also, for cumulative incidence plotting, the Kaplan-Meier method will be used. To identify risk factors for occurrence and poor outcomes of post-CC-surgery glaucoma, we will perform a multivariable regression analysis of matched samples. The detailed patterns of post-CC-surgery glaucoma management will be studied as well.

OSF registration number

DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/AWTEC.

Management of Childhood Glaucoma Following Cataract Surgery

Glaucoma remains a frequent serious complication following cataract surgery in children. The optimal approach to management for 'glaucoma following cataract surgery' (GFCS), one of the paediatric glaucoma subtypes, is an ongoing debate. This review evaluates the various management options available and aims to propose a clinical management strategy for GFCS cases. A literature search was conducted in four large databases (Cochrane, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science), from 1995 up to December 2021. Thirty-nine studies-presenting (1) eyes with GFCS; a disease entity as defined by the Childhood Glaucoma Research Network Classification, (2) data on treatment outcomes, and (3) follow-up data of at least 6 months-were included. Included papers report on GFCS treated with angle surgery, trabeculectomy, glaucoma drainage device implantation (GDD), and cyclodestructive procedures. Medical therapy is the first-line treatment in GFCS, possibly to bridge time to surgery. Multiple surgical procedures are often required to adequately control GFCS. Angle surgery (360 degree) may be considered before proceeding to GDD implantation, since this technique offers good results and is less invasive. Literature suggests that GDD implantation gives the best chance for long-term IOP control in childhood GFCS and some studies put this technique forward as a good choice for primary surgery. Cyclodestruction seems to be effective in some cases with uncontrolled IOP. Trabeculectomy should be avoided, especially in children under the age of one year and children that are left aphakic. The authors provide a flowchart to guide the management of individual GFCS cases.

Long-term outcomes of secondary intraocular lens implantation in children

PURPOSE

This study aims to report long-term outcomes of secondary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation after early cataract surgery in children.

METHODS

This is a retrospective case series that included children undergoing secondary IOL implantation. The patients had either in-the-bag (ITB) or sulcus implantation; alternative methods of IOL fixation were excluded. Single-piece acrylic IOL was used for ITB and 3-piece acrylic or PMMA IOL for sulcus implantation. The visual acuity outcomes and rate of complications at the last follow-up visit were evaluated.

RESULTS

One hundred six eyes (70 patients) were analyzed. The mean follow-up was 5.5 ± 3.8 years. Sixty-two eyes (58.5%) had ITB; 44 eyes (41.5%) had sulcus IOL. All but 3 eyes (97.2%) showed stable or improvement in visual acuity. Early inflammation > grade 2 + was noted with sulcus IOL (84% vs 34%, p = 0.01); late inflammation requiring vitrectomy occurred in one eye with sulcus IOL. Mild decentration was seen in 2 eyes with sulcus IOL; one additional subluxed sulcus IOL was exchanged. Sixteen out of 106 eyes (16%) had glaucoma. Eyes that developed glaucoma had early primary surgery (mean, 0.2 years, p < 0.001, significant); there was no difference in glaucoma rates based on implantation site.

CONCLUSION

Early postoperative inflammation is higher in eyes with sulcus implantation, but good visual acuity outcomes are noted after secondary IOL implantation in children. Glaucoma is the main complication that requires close monitoring and is associated with early age at primary surgery.

Swedish Parents' Experiences and Their Need for Support When Having a Child with Congenital Cataract: A Qualitative Study

PURPOSE

To explore parents' experiences of living with a child with congenital cataract, with the intention of identifying how to improve the parental support.

DESIGN AND METHOD

A qualitative descriptive design using semi-structured interviews. The parents were interviewed when the children were aged 12-24 months. All children were operated on for congenital cataract before three months of age. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach. Findings were reported following the Standard for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) checklist.

RESULTS

Three categories emerged from the data: trying to survive during a chaotic time; adapting to a different normal; being in need of support. When receiving the preliminary diagnosis, most of the parents were upset but managed well once the initial shock had subsided. However, some described feelings of despair, difficulties in accepting the situation and in connecting with the child. All parents stated that, to be valuable, a counsellor needed to have insights in how the eye works and the function of visual development.

CONCLUSION

The parents' need for psychosocial support in the early post-diagnostic stage varied greatly. Early identification of those in need of specialized counselling is therefore of importance, preferably at the maternity ward or by the regional ophthalmologist when the referral is made.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The study provides understanding of the importance to take the parents' well-being beyond the medical issues into consideration. This knowledge can be used to provide support at an earlier stage in the treatment programme than is currently the case.

Advisability of primary intraocular lens implantation for infants under 2: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSES

The present meta-analysis compared the postoperative visual performance of primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation and primary aphakia in cataract infants.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Science Direct and Cochrane Library were searched, and postoperative visual acuity (VA) and complications were extracted and pooled.

RESULTS

Three randomised controlled trails (RCTs) and five retrospective studies were included. The postoperative VA of children younger than 4.5 years in primary IOL group was better than that in primary aphakia group [MD = -0.14, 95% CI: (-0.23, -0.06), P = .90]. The subgroup analysis based on RCTs and on unilateral cataract surgery revealed the same result. There was no significant difference in the incidence of glaucoma, strabismus, retinal detachment and nystagmus between primary IOL group and primary aphakia group [OR = 1.02, 95% CI: (0.62, 1.68), P = .48 for glaucoma; OR = 0.76, 95% CI: (0.30, 1.90), P = .05 for strabismus; OR = 0.49, 95% CI: (0.07, 3.30), P = .34 for retinal detachment; OR = 1.26, 95% CI: (0.68, 2.36), P = .92 for nystagmus]. The proportion of patients requiring postoperative visual axis opacification (VAO) clearing was higher in primary IOL group than that in primary aphakia group [OR = 9.22, 95% CI: (4.74, 17.96), P = .16].

CONCLUSION

For infants under 2 years of age, primary IOL implantation would provide more visual benefits compared with primary aphakia did, though the benefits would taper off with the age reaching 4.5 years. Moreover, the current study revealed a higher VAO incidence r in primary IOL implantation group.

Clinical Outcomes After Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Implantation for Pediatric Glaucoma After Congenital Cataract Surgery

PRCIS

Ahmed valve success for glaucoma following congenital cataract surgery lasts at least 5 years in most eyes, and >10 years in some cases. The procedure is a valuable option for these patients.

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to report on the results of Ahmed valve implantation in children with glaucoma following congenital cataract surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Medical records were reviewed for 41 pediatric eyes (27 patients) with glaucoma after congenital cataract surgery with Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation between 2007 and 2018. The primary outcome measure was surgical success, defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) ≤22 mm Hg (with or without glaucoma medications) on 2 consecutive follow-up visits, without glaucoma reoperation, and without significant visual complications during the follow-up period.

RESULTS

Median age at the time of AGV implantation was 80 months (range: 14 to 146 mo) and the mean follow-up period was 61.1±46.5 months. The cumulative probability of surgical success was 95.1%, 89.8%, 83.1%, and 72.6% at 12, 24, 60, and 84 months, respectively. IOP significantly decreased from 35.8±7.4 mm Hg before valve implantation to 18.7±6.5 mm Hg at the last recorded visit (51.4% decrease; P<0.0001). Most eyes (79%) required medications for pressure control. Complications occurred in 14 eyes (34%), with 12 of these remaining successful. Early hypotony was the most common complication (19.5%). Retinal detachment occurred in 1 eye.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite a decrease in surgical success over time, AGV implantation was successfully used for IOP control in the majority of our pediatric eyes with glaucoma after congenital cataract surgery. Most complications were managed effectively and surgical success was maintained.

Commentary review: challenges of intraocular lens implantation for congenital cataract infants

As an indispensable part of congenital cataract surgery, intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in infantile patients has long-term positive impacts on visual rehabilitation, as well as postoperative complications inevitably. Timing of IOL implantation in infantile congenital cataract patients is not simply a point-in-time but a personalized decision that comprehensively takes age at surgery, risks of postoperative complications, and economic condition of family in consideration, and combines with choosing suitable IOL type and power. For infants with well-developed eyeballs and good systemic conditions, IOL implantation at six months of age or older is safe and effective. Otherwise, secondary IOL implantation may be a safer choice.

Outcomes and surgical management of persistent fetal vasculature

Objective

To analyse outcomes in different forms of persistent fetal vasculature (PFV).

Methods and analysis

Retrospective cohort study at a university-based practice of children presenting with PFV between 2011 and 2020. Exclusion criteria was surgical management outside of our institution and follow-up less than 1 month. Wilcoxon and Student’s t-tests were used for statistical analysis.

Results

Forty-six eyes of 45 patients presented with PFV at 16.7±31.3 (median 2.8) months old with 32.6±29.8 (median 22.5) months of follow-up. Types of PFV included: mild combined anterior-posterior (23 eyes, 50%), severe combined anterior-posterior (18 eyes, 39%), severe anterior (3 eyes, 7%), mild anterior (1 eye, 2%) and posterior (1 eye, 2%). Thirty-two eyes (70%) underwent PFV surgical correction; lensectomy (13 mild combined), vitrectomy (3 mild combined), sequential lensectomy then vitrectomy (3 severe combined), combined lensectomy-vitrectomy (11 severe anterior or severe combined), laser retinopexy (1 mild combined). Five eyes required additional vitrectomy surgery for retinal detachment, fold or cyclitic membrane. Nine eyes developed glaucoma, six requiring Intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering surgery. At final follow-up, 32 eyes had at least form vision and 6 eyes were aversive to light. Eight eyes, all which were severe combined, and four that did not undergo PFV surgery, were unable to detect light due to phthisis bulbi (7) and optic nerve hypoplasia (1).

Conclusions

Classification of PFV is important in determining surgical approach with severe cases often requiring both lensectomy and vitrectomy for optimal anatomic and functional outcomes.

Glaucoma-Related Adverse Events at 10 Years in the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Glaucoma-related adverse events constitute serious complications of cataract removal in infancy, yet long-term data on incidence and visual outcome remain lacking.

Objective

To identify and characterize incident cases of glaucoma and glaucoma-related adverse events (glaucoma + glaucoma suspect) among children in the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study (IATS) by the age of 10.5 years and to determine whether these diagnoses are associated with optic nerve head (ONH) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) assessment.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Analysis of a multicenter randomized clinical trial of 114 infants with unilateral congenital cataract who were aged 1 to 6 months at surgery. Data on long-term glaucoma-related status and outcomes were collected when children were 10.5 years old (July 14, 2015, to July 12, 2019) and analyzed from March 30, 2019, to August 6, 2019.

Interventions

Participants were randomized at cataract surgery to either primary intraocular lens (IOL), or aphakia (contact lens [CL]). Standardized definitions of glaucoma and glaucoma suspect were created for IATS and applied for surveillance and diagnosis.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Development of glaucoma and glaucoma + glaucoma suspect in operated-on eyes up to age 10.5 years, plus intraocular pressure, axial length, RNFL (by optical coherence tomography), and ONH photographs.

Results

In Kaplan-Meier analysis, for all study eyes combined (n = 114), risk of glaucoma after cataract removal rose from 9% (95% CI, 5%-16%) at 1 year, to 17% (95% CI, 11%-25%) at 5 years, to 22% (95% CI, 16%-31%) at 10 years. The risk of glaucoma plus  glaucoma suspect diagnosis after cataract removal rose from 12% (95% CI, 7%-20%) at 1 year, to 31% (95% CI, 24%-41%) at 5 years, to 40% (95% CI, 32%-50%) at 10 years. Risk of glaucoma and glaucoma plus glaucoma suspect diagnosis at 10 years was not significantly different between treatment groups. Eyes with glaucoma (compared with eyes with glaucoma suspect or neither) had longer axial length but relatively preserved RNFL and similar ONH appearance and visual acuity at age 10 years.

Conclusions and Relevance

Risk of glaucoma-related adverse events continues to increase with longer follow-up of children following unilateral cataract removal in infancy and is not associated with primary IOL implantation. Development of glaucoma (or glaucoma suspect) after removal of unilateral congenital cataract was not associated with worse visual acuity outcomes at 10 years.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00212134.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Glaucoma Following Pediatric Cataract Surgery With Primary Implantation

PURPOSE

To determine the incidence and risk factors for glaucoma after pediatric cataract surgery with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.

DESIGN

Retrospective, consecutive case series.

METHODS

In this single-center study, we reviewed 136 children (199 eyes) who underwent pediatric cataract surgery before 1 year of age with a minimum of 1 year of follow-up. The intervention used was pediatric cataract surgery with IOL implantation, and the primary outcome measure was the presence or absence of secondary glaucoma.

RESULTS

The mean age at surgery was 148 ± 93 days (range 30-359 days) with a mean follow-up of 6.3 ± 3.6 years (range 1.1-12.8 years). Glaucoma developed in 31 eyes (16%) with 5- and 10-year incidence rates of 12% and 28%, respectively. The incidence of glaucoma seemed to be bimodal, with a first peak occurring after a mean delay of 2.5 months (range 1.6-4.1 months) and a second peak occurring after a mean delay of 5.7 years (range 2.6-11.7 years). Younger age at surgery, shorter axial length, longer follow-up, use of trypan blue, reintervention, and bilateral surgery were associatied with a higher incidence of glaucoma. Multivariate analysis including the aforementioned variables indentified longer follow-up (odds ratio [OR] = 1.3 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.1-1.6], P = .001), reintervention (OR = 4.1 [95% CI 1.2-13.4], P = 0.02), and the use of trypan blue (OR = 4.1 [95% CI 1.3-13.1], P = .02) as predictors for the development of glaucoma.

CONCLUSION

Glaucoma is a common complication after pediatric cataract surgery. It seemed to have a bimodal incidence. Risk factors for glaucoma development were reintervention, the use of trypan blue, and a long follow-up.

Treatment of congenital and early childhood cataract

The successful outcome of treatment for infant and childhood cataract depends on many factors. It is crucial that the treatment falls into a phase in which neither the eye nor the visual pathway and visual cortex are fully developed. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge and provides an overview of the epidemiology, causes and clinical forms, early detection and, above all, treatment options. Special attention is paid to time-critical stages of development, according to which the therapeutic concepts are based. Complications, such as amblyopia and glaucoma are discussed in detail. In addition to surgical aspects, much emphasis is placed on orthoptic-refractive aftercare, the quality and execution of which is the essential predictor of a good functional outcome.

Safety of intracameral moxifloxacin in the pediatric population: an equivalence study

PURPOSE

To investigate whether the safety of intracameral moxifloxacin (IC-Mox) was equivalent to subconjunctival antibiotics (SC-Abs) in pediatric lens surgery.

SETTING

The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.

DESIGN

Retrospective consecutive cohort study.

METHODS

This equivalence study compared 95% CI in the difference between the preoperative and postoperative safety variables of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), central corneal thickness (CCT), endothelial cell density (ECD), corneal edema, and anterior chamber (AC) inflammation in IC-Mox with SC-Abs. The zone of clinical equivalence for BCVA was set at ±0.2 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution, IOP at ±3 mm Hg, CCT at ±30 μm, and ECD at ±400 cells/mm.

RESULTS

The charts of 358 patients undergoing lens-related surgeries were reviewed. Of 317 eyes (215 patients) included, 170 eyes received IC-Mox and 147 eyes had SC-Abs. The mean age was 4.9 and 5.1 years with a mean follow-up of 19 and 34.4 months (P < .001) in IC-Mox and SC-Ab groups, respectively. The 95% CIs for the change from preoperative to postoperative safety parameters between IC-Mox and SC-Abs were all in the zones of clinical equivalence (BCVA, P = 0.75; highest IOP in the first 6 weeks postoperatively, P = 0.27; IOP at the last visit, P = 0.74; CCT, P = 0.89; and ECD, P = 0.76). During the first 6 weeks postoperatively, there was no difference in corneal edema (P = .69) and AC flare (P = .4) between IC-Mox and SC-Ab groups, whereas AC cellular activity was significantly higher in the SC-Ab group (P = .028).

CONCLUSIONS

IC-Mox prophylaxis in pediatric patients showed equivalent postoperative safety outcomes when compared with SC-Abs. The use of IC-Mox (250 μg) for endophthalmitis prophylaxis appears to be safe in the pediatric population.

Angle Surgery in Pediatric Glaucoma Following Cataract Surgery

Glaucoma is a common and sight-threatening complication of pediatric cataract surgery Reported incidence varies due to variability in study designs and length of follow-up. Consistent and replicable risk factors for developing glaucoma following cataract surgery (GFCS) are early age at the time of surgery, microcornea, and additional surgical interventions. The exact mechanism for GFCS has yet to be completely elucidated. While medical therapy is the first line for treatment of GFCS, many eyes require surgical intervention, with various surgical modalities each posing a unique host of risks and benefits. Angle surgical techniques include goniotomy and trabeculotomy, with trabeculotomy demonstrating increased success over goniotomy as an initial procedure in pediatric eyes with GFCS given the success demonstrated throughout the literature in reducing IOP and number of IOP-lowering medications required post-operatively. The advent of microcatheter facilitated circumferential trabeculotomies lead to increased success compared to traditional <180° rigid probe trabeculotomy in GFCS. The advent of two-site rigid-probe trabeculotomy indicated that similar results could be attained without the use of the more expensive microcatheter system. Further studies of larger scale, with increased follow-up, and utilizing randomization would be beneficial in determining optimum surgical management of pediatric GFCS.