Results of intraocular lens implantation in paediatric aphakia

Results of congenital cataract surgery with and without intraocular lens implantation in infants and children

BACKGROUND

Operations for congenital cataract in children in the past had resulted in aphakia. Improvement in surgical tools and techniques as well as in intraocular lens (IOL) implantation has led to correction of the aphakia by IOL implantation. We report the outcome of cataract surgery with and without IOL on these children in our institution between 1991-2008.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, the medical records of all children who underwent surgery for congenital cataract were reviewed. The final study group included 144 children (218 eyes). Postoperative visual acuity (VA) was tested either by Teller Acuity Cards (in preverbal children) or by the Snellen chart. Data on VA status and postoperative complications were retrieved.

RESULTS

Patients with bilateral cataract had better postoperative VA than patients with unilateral cataract (logMAR 0.559 ± 0.455 vs. 0.919 ± 0.685, respectively, P < 0.001). Children who underwent IOL implantation had better postoperative VA than those who did not, but the type of surgery had no significant effect after correction for the child's age at surgery (P = 0.346). Secondary cataract occurred more frequently in the extra-capsular cataract extraction (ECCE) + IOL implantation group than in the ECCE only group (20.6 % vs. 8.3 %, respectively, P = 0.018).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with bilateral cataract had better postoperative VA compared with those with unilateral cataract. The type of surgery had no effect on final VA, but there was a higher rate of secondary cataract in the ECCE + IOL patients compared to the ECCE only patients.

Anti-inflammatory effect of low-molecular-weight heparin in pediatric cataract surgery: a randomized clinical trial

PURPOSE

To determine if intraocular infusion of low-molecular-weight heparin (enoxaparin) reduces postoperative inflammation in pediatric eyes undergoing cataract surgery with IOL implantation.

DESIGN

Prospective masked randomized controlled trial.

METHODS

setting: Private, institutional practice. study population: Twenty children (40 eyes) undergoing bilateral cataract surgery with IOL implantation were randomized to receive enoxaparin in the intraocular infusion fluid (BSS) (Group I) or not to receive enoxaparin (Group II). The first eye was randomly assigned to 1 of the 2 groups and the second eye received alternate treatment. observation procedure: Patients were followed up in the first week and 1 and 3 months after surgery. main outcome measures: Anterior chamber flare and cells (Hogan's criteria), cell deposits on IOL, posterior synechiae.

RESULTS

One week postoperatively, no eyes had >grade 2 flare/cells. Proportion of eyes with grade 2 cells was higher in eyes that did not receive enoxaparin (Group II: 80% vs Group I: 40%, P = .009). In the first week >10 small cell deposits were noted in the eyes that received enoxaparin (Group I: 20%, Group II: none, P = .005). Large cell deposits first appeared at 1 month in 40% of eyes in Group I and 55% of eyes in Group II (P = .34) and increased at 3 months (60% in both groups, P > .999). Posterior synechiae were seen in 10% of eyes in Group I at 1 month, which persisted at 3 months; no eyes in Group II showed posterior synechiae (P = .14).

CONCLUSION

The results of our study suggest that there does not seem to be a benefit of using enoxaparin in the infusion fluid with respect to early postoperative inflammation.

Long-term outcome of primary versus secondary intraocular lens implantation after simultaneous removal of bilateral congenital cataract

BACKGROUND

Long-term outcomes of intraocular lens (IOL) implantation for congenital cataract in children under 2 years old are still undetermined.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed all cases of bilateral congenital cataract who had undergone simultaneous bilateral cataract removal with posterior capsulotomy and central anterior vitrectomy between 1990 and 2010. Patients randomly underwent primary IOL implantation or secondary IOL implantation after a period of contact lens wear. The two groups were compared for visual outcome and complications during follow-up.

RESULTS

Cataract removal and primary IOL implantation was performed in 30 eyes (15 patients; nine males, six females) at a mean age of 6.8 ± 4.2 months. After 79.31 ± 63.4 months, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.53 ± 0.36 EDTRS LogMAR. In 36 eyes (18 patients, 11 males, seven females) the lens was removed at a mean age of 5.42 ± 2.80 months, and after 32.0 ± 6.1 months of contact lens utilization, secondary IOL implantation was performed. After 109.0 ± 33.8 months, BCVA was 0.54 ± 0.4 ETDRS LogMAR. The association between age at surgery and final visual acuity and the difference between the two groups concerning type of cataract at baseline, BCVA and refractive error at last visit, incidence of posterior capsular opacification, glaucoma, strabismus, and nystagmus during follow-up were not significant (p > 0.05). Myopic shift was more frequent in eyes undergone primary IOL implantation (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Similar visual outcome and complications were observed during long-term follow-up after both primary and secondary IOL implantation following simultaneous bilateral congenital cataract removal with posterior capsulotomy and central anterior vitrectomy.

Long term results of primary posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation for congenital cataract in the first year of life

AIM

To document the long term outcome of congenital cataract surgery with primary posterior chamber (PC) lens implantation in the first year of life.

METHOD

A retrospective review of congenital cataract surgery in the first year of life with PC lens implantation in 18 infants, eight with unilateral and 10 with bilateral cataract. The average age at surgery was 15 weeks (range 3-44 weeks). The mean follow up was 95 months (range 60-139 months).

RESULTS

The best outcomes were in the bilateral group where 50% of eyes achieved 6/18 or better, with a best acuity of 6/9. Acuities were poor in the unilateral group where only 38% achieved 6/60 or better, with a best acuity of 6/24. There was a mean refractive shift between first refraction after surgery and refraction at 36 months after surgery of -3.44 dioptres with a very wide range (+2.00 to -15.50). There was a significantly greater myopic shift in the unilateral cases. Many eyes in both groups continued to show an increasing myopic shift between 36 months after surgery and their final recorded refraction. The main complications were amblyopia, especially in unilateral cataracts, and posterior capsular opacification. Amblyopia was most probably related to a combination of early onset of dense cataract in this young age group, late presentation for initial surgery, delay in capsulotomies, and imperfect compliance with a rigorous occlusion regime.

CONCLUSION

Intraocular lens implantation in infants less than 1 year of age is generally a safe procedure. The spread of final refractive error was very wide. Final refraction in the unilateral group was significantly more myopic than the bilateral group. Final acuities were often disappointing especially in the unilateral group.

Intraoperative enoxaparin minimizes inflammatory reaction after pediatric cataract surgery

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effect of intraocular infusion of enoxaparin, a low-molecular-weight heparin, on postoperative inflammatory response in pediatric cataract surgery.

DESIGN

Prospective, comparative, consecutive interventional case series.

METHODS

Seventeen consecutive eyes (11 patients) underwent pediatric cataract surgery in two tertiary medical centers. During the procedure, balanced salt solution with enoxaparin (40 mg in 500 ml) was infused into the anterior chamber. Eleven consecutive eyes (eight patients) received balanced salt solution without enoxaparin in the infusion bottle. The inflammatory response in the anterior chamber was compared between the two groups by semiquantification with slit-lamp biomicroscopy. Postoperative inflammatory complications, including fibrin formation, intraocular lens precipitates, anterior and posterior synechiae, cyclitic and pupillary membrane formation, and anterior subluxation of the intraocular lens, were also compared. The follow-up period after surgery was between 3 and 36 months (average 12.3 months).

RESULTS

The number of cells and the degree of flare were minimal in the group with enoxaparin in the infusion bottle (P < .001). The total number of postoperative inflammation-related complications was also lower in the enoxaparin-treated group (P = .007). All corneas remained clear, and the endothelial cell count, which was performed in two patients, did not show substantial decrease in their density or changes in shape and size. No other enoxaparin-related complications were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Infusion of enoxaparin during pediatric cataract surgery may minimize the postoperative inflammatory response and decrease the number of postoperative inflammatory related complications. Enoxaparin should also be evaluated for cataract surgery in other conditions where postoperative inflammation may be exacerbated.

Cataract extraction and primary hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens implantation in infants

PURPOSE

We sought to report the incidence of visual axis opacification and to evaluate the complication and reoperation rates after intraocular lens implantation in infants.

METHODS

Twenty-one infants (31 eyes) who had cataract extraction with primary hydrophobic acrylic IOL implantation between October 1996 and May 2002 were reviewed. Posterior capsule was left intact in 14 eyes (group A); posterior capsulorrhexis or capsulotomy with anterior vitrectomy was performed in 17 eyes (group B). Complication and reoperation rates were compared with an age-matched control group of 17 patients (33 eyes) who were left aphakic after pars plicata lensectomy. Mean follow-up period was 41 months (range, 22-75 months) in group A, 37 months (range, 10-75 months) in group B, and 52 months (range, 7-97 months) in the control group.

RESULTS

Mean age of the patients was 6.8 months (range, 3-10 months) in group A, 8.9 months (range, 3-18 months) in group B, and 4.9 months (range, 1-15 months) in the control group. Visual axis opacification was significantly higher in group A (86%) when compared with group B (17.6%; P < 0.0001). No significant difference was found in terms of pupillary irregularities and peripheral anterior synechiae formation between pseudophakic and aphakic group ( P = 0.43 and P = 0.306, respectively), whereas pigment dispersion and fibrinous reaction were significantly more common in the pseudophakic group ( P = 0.002). Serious complications, such as retinal detachment, pseudophakic bullous keratopathy, and secondary glaucoma, did not develop in any eye. Reoperation rate was significantly higher in group A (78%) when compared with group B (17%) and the control group (12%; P = 0.0011 and P < 0.0001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Visual axis opacification requiring a reoperation was significantly more common in patients with an intact posterior capsule. To decrease the reoperation rate and maintain a clear visual axis, posterior capsulorrhexis with anterior vitrectomy should be performed. Even although early complications were quite frequent, serious late complications were not encountered in any eye. Therefore, under appropriate conditions, IOL implantation is a suitable alternative in infants.

Preventing recurrent opacification of the visual pathway after pediatric cataract surgery

PURPOSE

To determine the rate of secondary opacification of the visual pathway following pediatric cataract surgery in children between the ages of 10 months and 7 years.

METHODS

The medical records of children less than 7 years old who underwent lens aspiration, posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, primary pars plana posterior capsulectomy, and anterior vitrectomy were reviewed retrospectively. Twenty-six eyes in 19 children were included in the study. All procedures were performed by an anterior segment surgeon and a vitreoretinal surgeon. Main outcome measures were the prevalence of re-opacification of the visual pathway and of early postoperative complications.

RESULTS

The visual pathway remained clear in 25 of 26 eyes (96%) after pediatric cataract surgery combined with primary pars plana posterior capsulectomy and anterior vitrectomy. The mean age at surgery was 46 +/- 23 months (+/-SD). Secondary opacification of the visual pathway occurred in one eye (4%), requiring another surgical procedure. At last follow-up (mean, 26 months; range, 6 to 79 months), the visual pathway was clear in all 26 eyes (100%). No cases of clinically significant IOL displacement or of retinal detachment were noted.

CONCLUSIONS

For children undergoing pediatric cataract surgery between the ages of 10 months and 7 years, IOL implantation combined with primary pars plana posterior capsulectomy and anterior vitrectomy is effective in preventing re-opacification of the visual pathway.

Pediatric cataract surgery in Nepal

PURPOSE

To describe the first pediatric cataract surgery case series report from Nepal.

SETTING

Tilganga Eye Center, Kathmandu, Nepal.

METHODS

This study comprised a consecutive series of 112 eyes of 85 children having cataract surgery with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. General anesthesia of ketamine combined with peribulbar block was used in all patients. Patients' demographics, cataract type and presenting symptoms, surgical intervention, preoperative and postoperative visual acuities, and follow-up clinical examinations were recorded.

RESULTS

Seventy-three eyes (65.2%) of 53 patients had extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior capsulotomy, anterior vitrectomy, and posterior chamber IOL implantation (ECCE+PCAP+AV+PCIOL), and 39 eyes (34.8%) of 32 patients had cataract extraction and IOL implantation with an intact posterior capsule (ECCE+PCIOL). Of all patients, the mean age at surgery was 6.2 years +/- 4.3 (SD). The median age in the ECCE+PCAP+AV+PCIOL group was 4.7 years and in the ECCE+PCIOL group, 11.0 years. The mean follow-up was 5.4 +/- 5.3 months. The most common postoperative complication in the ECCE+PCIOL group was visual axis/posterior capsule opacification, which was seen in 18 eyes (46.2%) compared to 4 eyes (5.5%) in the ECCE+PCAP+AV+PCIOL group. Visual acuity improved with surgery in both groups. The leading cause of poor outcomes was deprivation amblyopia. There were no anesthesia-related complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Implantation of an IOL at the time of cataract extraction under combined systemic ketamine and peribulbar lidocaine anesthesia appeared to be well tolerated and produced significant visual improvement in pediatric patients in Nepal. Primary posterior capsulotomy and AV helped prevent visual axis opacification without a significant increase in complications.

Complications in the first year following cataract surgery with and without IOL in infants and older children

PURPOSE

The optimal role of intraocular lenses (IOLs) in infants remains a controversial topic for many reasons, including concerns about significant complications occurring in young rapidly developing eyes.

METHODS

To assess the number and type of significant complications requiring further intervention occurring in the first postoperative year, we reviewed the records of 15 eyes of 13 infants undergoing lensectomy with posterior chamber IOL and pars plana vitrectomy (PPV)/capsulectomy under 6 months (group A) of age as part of an ongoing prospective study of IOL use in infants. This group was compared with a group of 16 children age 10 months to 5 years undergoing an identical procedure (group B) and a group of 33 infants less than 6 months of age undergoing lensectomy/vitrectomy without IOL (group C).

RESULTS

Thirteen of 15 eyes in group A required additional surgery in the first postoperative year. Twelve of the 15 eyes (80%) developed secondary opacification across the visual axis posterior to the IOL requiring a second PPV and one eye developed pseudophakic glaucoma. Two patients required a third PPV to keep the visual axis clear. In group B, 0 of 16 (P <.0001) developed secondary opacification of the visual axis. In group C, 4 of 33 (12%; P <.0001) developed pupillary opacification in the first postoperative year.

CONCLUSIONS

Intraocular lens implants in infants may be associated with a higher complication rate requiring further surgery during the first postoperative year than is lensectomy/vitrectomy surgery without IOL implant in infants or lensectomy/IOL/vitrectomy surgery in children older than 6 months of age.

Visual outcomes and complications of posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation in the first year of life

PURPOSE

To document the visual outcome and postoperative complications in infants who had congenital cataract surgery with posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC IOL) implantation in the first year of life.

SETTING

The Children's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

METHODS

Twenty-seven eyes of 20 infants were reviewed. Seven infants (14 eyes) had bilateral congenital cataract and 13 (13 eyes), uniocular cataract. The mean age at surgery was 4 months (range 3 weeks to 11 months). A standard surgical technique involved anterior capsulorhexis, phacoemulsification with or without posterior capsulorhexis with in-the-bag PC IOL implantation, and no anterior vitrectomy. Surgery was performed by 1 surgeon. The mean follow-up was 41 months (range 6 to 88 months).

RESULTS

The main complication was lens reproliferation into the visual axis. Of the 11 eyes that did not have a primary posterior capsulorhexis, 10 had 1 or more capsulotomies. Seven required a neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser capsulotomy a mean of 6 months postoperatively, and 2 had 2 Nd:YAG capsulotomies. Six eyes also had a surgical capsulotomy when the membrane was deemed too thick for further laser treatment. Fourteen of 25 eyes had a primary posterior capsulorhexis; 8 had no further intervention. Four eyes had persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV), 3 required a surgical capsulotomy, 2 had an Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy, 2 had an anterior vitrectomy, and 1 developed open-angle glaucoma. There was a mean refractive shift of 6.0 diopters after a mean follow-up of 41 months, with most of the myopic shift occurring in the first 24 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Visual axis reopacification was the main complication of IOL implantation in infants, with PHPV leading to more complications and repeat procedures. Anterior vitrectomy appeared to reduce the reoperation rate. Results indicate that primary posterior capsulorhexis is important and Nd:YAG capsulotomy is not satisfactory in infants. In addition, the reduction in glaucoma with IOL implantation, if borne out over the long term, is a significant advantage in cases of congenital cataract.

Pediatric secondary lens implantation in the absence of capsular support

PURPOSE

To describe and evaluate alternate techniques for implanting intraocular lenses in children in the absence of adequate capsular support for traditional lens implantation.

METHODS

Postoperative results of 18 eyes with posterior chamber intraocular lenses (PCIOLs) sutured to the ciliary sulcus and 10 eyes implanted with anterior chamber intraocular lenses (ACIOLs) were reviewed. Visual outcomes were divided into 2 groups: onset of aphakia during the critical period of visual development (< or = 9 years) and onset after the critical period (> 9 years). Visual outcomes and complications were recorded.

RESULTS

Average follow-up was 10.3 months in the PCIOL group and 49.2 months in the ACIOL group. Eyes that became aphakic after the critical period of visual development achieved better overall final visual acuity than the eyes that became aphakic during the critical period; indeed, the eyes that became aphakic during the critical period did not achieve significantly improved vision. There were no complications in the PCIOL group. Complications in the ACIOL group included corectopia, haptic migration through the operative wound requiring removal, and pigment deposits on the lens.

CONCLUSIONS

PCIOLs sutured to the ciliary sulcus offer a superior option to ACIOLs for correction of childhood aphakia in children lacking capsular support. ACIOLs had a high rate of serious complications (10%) in this small series. Secondary implantation with transsclerally sutured PCIOLs should be considered in complicated cases when more conservative options have been exhausted.

Results of cataract surgery in young children in east Africa

BACKGROUND

Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in children in east Africa. The results of surgery are poor, partly because of inadequate correction of aphakia.

METHODS

A retrospective survey of 118 eyes in 71 children with bilateral cataract. All eyes had implantation of an IOL at the time of cataract surgery. The average age at surgery was 3.5 years. 28 patients(39%) were less than 2 years old at the time of surgery on their first eye.

RESULTS

Preoperatively, 75.4% of eyes and 76.1% of patients were blind. A follow up of at least 3 months was available in 91 (77.1%) eyes. In these eyes, 44% had a latest corrected vision of 6/18 or better and 91.2% had a latest corrected vision of 6/60 or better. Eyes with zonular cataract, and eyes operated after the age of 2 years were more likely to obtain a vision of 6/18 or better. 3.3% of eyes and 1.8% of patients had an acuity of less than 3/60. Nystagmus was present in 42.3% of patients before surgery. In those patients followed up for a minimum of 6 months, 10.2% still had nystagmus. The most frequent complication was severe fibrinous uveitis, which occurred in 36 (30.5%) eyes. 62 (52.5%) eyes had a posterior capsulotomy at the time of cataract extraction. Of the remaining 56 eyes, 20 (35.7%) had so far required a posterior capsulotomy. The leading cause of poor visual outcome was amblyopia. Two patients developed severe complications related to the intraocular lens.

CONCLUSIONS

Insertion of a lens implant at the time of cataract extraction appears to be well tolerated in the short term, and may offer significant advantages in an African setting.

Visual outcome and complications of bilateral intraocular lens implantation in children

PURPOSE

To determine the safety and efficacy of bilateral intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in children.

SETTING

Tertiary referral pediatric ophthalmology department.

METHODS

This retrospective study comprised 13 children (26 eyes) who had bilateral cataract surgery with IOL implantation. Patients were divided into 2 groups: congenital cases, diagnosed during the first year of life, and developmental cases, diagnosed after 1 year of age. All patients had small incision phacoemulsification with primary implantation of a poly(methyl methacrylate) or a foldable acrylic IOL. Primary posterior capsulotomy was performed in 16 eyes (61.5%).

RESULTS

Age at surgery ranged from 1 week to just under 8 years. Seven patients (53.8%) had a systemic diagnosis: Down's syndrome (n = 4); developmental delay or cerebral atrophy (n = 3). Five children with systemic problems could not cooperate with formal vision testing; 2 could fix and follow bilaterally, and 3 had central, steady, and maintained vision bilaterally. In the congenital group, 37.5% of eyes attained a visual acuity of 20/20 and 87.5%, 20/120 or better. In the developmental group, formal vision testing was possible in 4 children. Five eyes (83.3%) attained a visual acuity of 20/40 or better. Thirteen eyes (50.0%) required posterior capsulotomy. Primary posterior capsulotomy reduced the incidence of posterior capsule opacification (PCO), but there was no correlation between PCO and IOL material. One patient developed glaucoma bilaterally.

CONCLUSION

Bilateral IOL implantation was safe and produced good visual results in children of all ages with bilateral cataract.

Does primary intraocular lens implantation prevent "aphakic" glaucoma in children?

PURPOSE

Open-angle glaucoma may develop after surgery for congenital or developmental cataract with an incidence ranging from 3% to 41%. The pathogenesis of "aphakic" (open-angle) glaucoma remains unknown. Despite numerous reported clinical series (>1000 eyes), we are unaware of any reported case of open-angle glaucoma after primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation for congenital or developmental cataract. We decided to test the hypothesis that primary posterior chamber IOL implantation might decrease the incidence of open-angle glaucoma in children.

METHODS

Pseudophakic eyes were collected from surgeons who contributed data to a refractive study and who monitored intraocular pressure on a regular basis. IOL implantation was commonly performed in eyes with a corneal diameter >10 mm. Comparable primary data on aphakic eyes were included from 2 published studies on aphakic glaucoma, which included corneal diameters and the patient's age at surgery. Glaucoma-free survival estimates for each cohort were estimated.

RESULTS

Only 1 case of glaucoma was found among 377 eyes with primary pseudophakia (mean age of patient, 5.1 +/- 4.7 years; mean follow-up, 3.9 +/- 2.7 years). There were 14 eyes (11.3%) with glaucoma among 124 aphakic eyes (mean age of patient, 2.7 +/- 2.6 years; mean follow-up time, 7.2 +/- 3.9 years).

CONCLUSIONS

We report a decreased incidence of open-angle glaucoma among eyes rendered primarily pseudophakic compared with those that remained aphakic after cataract surgery. We propose 2 theories on the possible mechanism of reduction in the incidence of glaucoma in pseudophakic eyes.

The IOLAB, Inc pediatric intraocular lens study. AAPOS Reasearch Committee. American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus

PURPOSE

This report is a summary of the data of the IOLAB, Inc pediatric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation investigation. The goal of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of IOL implantation for the treatment of pediatric aphakia, pending approval by the Food and Drug Administration.

METHODS

From May 1981 to July 1994, a total of 1260 pediatric eyes received 171 styles of IOLs implanted by 361 US investigators. Preoperative, operative, and postoperative status reports over the first year were required for each eye entered into the study. Annual visit reports were requested thereafter to determine the long-term effects. The study was terminated in November 1995. All IOLs were obtained from IOLAB, Inc (now Chiron Vision Corp).

RESULTS

Reporting compliance was 98.3% for the preoperative and operative reports, 45.1% at 1 year, and 13.8% at 3 years. The subjects' ages ranged from younger than 1 yearto 17 years. Nine subjects (0.7%) were younger than 1 year, with the largest group of 533 subjects (42.3%) aged between 6 and 12 years atthe time of surgery. Cataract types were congenital (45.6%), traumatic (37.1%), secondary (11%), senile (0.95%), and unrecorded (5.4%). The IOL was implanted primarily in 74.8% of cases and secondarily in 21.4% of cases. There was no record in 3.8% of the cases. IOL types included anterior chamber (4.1%), iridocapsular (0.71%), posterior chamber (93.6%), and unrecorded (1.59%). There were 130 adverse reactions that required secondary surgical intervention. The most frequently performed surgical procedures included lens removal without replacement, vitrectomy, lens repositioning, and lens replacement. More than half (52%) of all eyes had a visual acuity of 20/200 or worse before surgery; amblyopia was reported in 21.1% of all participants at baseline. Postoperative visual acuity data were available on 563 eyes at 1 year after surgery. Overall, 52.8% of all eyes attained a visual acuity of 20/40 or better by the 1-year visit, and only 15.5% had visual acuity worse than 20/200. In general, the older patient, traumatic cataract, and secondary cataract categories were overrepresented in the better visual acuity outcome group.

CONCLUSION

The IOLAB, Inc pediatric IOL study is the first multiple-practitioner, national study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of IOL implantation in children. The study results are compromised by the almost 50% loss of follow-up at the 1-year evaluation. Other variables that most likely influenced outcome results were the methods of cataract extraction, medical management, and IOL design, all of which evolved dramatically over the time course of the study. Despite these issues, pediatric IOL implantation seems to be a reasonable treatment modality for aphakia, on the basis of the available 1-year follow-up data of the remaining 45.1% of eyes in the study.

Management of monocular congenital cataracts

Monocular congenital cataracts have been treated for the past two decades with early surgery, contact lens correction and patching of the unaffected eye. While an occasional patient has had a good visual outcome with this treatment regiment, the majority end up being legally blind in the aphakic eye. Intraocular lenses (IOLs) are increasingly being used as an alternative means of optically correcting aphakia during infancy. A growing body of literature suggests that an IOL correction is associated with an improved visual outcome and a relatively low incidence of post-operative complications. A monkey model has also been used to study the safety and feasibility of correcting aphakia in neonates with IOLs. These studies have revealed that the visual outcome is as good if not better with an IOL correction. A multicentre clinical trial, the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study (IATS), is being organised in the United States to critically compare an IOL and contact lens correction for infantile aphakia.

Intraocular lens implantation in children and youth

PURPOSE

To evaluate the safety and the effectiveness posterior chamber intraocular lenses (PCIOLs) in children and youth with cataract.

METHODS

Retrospective study of operative and postoperative results was based on 146 eyes in 125 children ages 6 to 18 years (mean: 11.7 years) who underwent extracapsular cataract extraction with IOL implantation in the period from 1986 to 1996. Follow up was 1 to 10 years.

OUTCOME MEASURE

Best corrected distance and near visual acuity, operative complications, and early and late postoperative complications. Exclusion criteria were uveitis, retinal detachment, prior glaucoma, and systemic diseases.

RESULTS

Early postoperative complications were observed in 12.3% of cases including iritis in 7.5%, and transient corneal edema in 3.4% of eyes. Posterior capsule opacification requiring capsulotomy was needed in 81.5% of eyes after 8.5 years. YAG laser capsulotomy was performed in 68.1% and surgical intervention in 26.8% of cases. In 5.1% of the cases, both techniques were used. In 74.7% of patients, best corrected visual acuity of 0.5 or better was achieved. The mean postoperative spherical equivalent was +0.35 diopters (D, SD 1.35). Spectacle-corrected near visual acuity of 0.5 on the Snellen chart was obtained in 82.8% of eyes.

CONCLUSION

IOL implantation in children older than 6 years appears to be an efficacious, satisfactory, and safe procedure in the management of pediatric cataract.

Visual outcome after paediatric cataract surgery: is age a major factor?

AIMS

To determine functional results after unilateral and bilateral cataract surgery in children with different aphakic optical correction.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, we evaluated visual acuity and binocular vision in 107 children who underwent cataract surgery during the 10 year period from 1985 to 1995. Aphakia was corrected by an intracapsular intraocular lens (IOL), spectacles or contact lenses.

RESULTS

Mean visual acuity was > 20/40 (< 0.3 log MAR) with normal binocular vision in 58 children over 7 months of age operated on for bilateral cataracts. Pseudophakic eyes regained visual acuity > 20/63 (< 0.5 log MAR) more often (90%) than aphakic eyes (46%) (p < 0.001). Binocular vision was also achieved more often after IOL implantation (p < 0.001). Visual outcome of early bilateral cataracts was less satisfactory in children with abnormal foveolar function. For 49 children who had surgery for unilateral cataracts, prognosis was poor when surgery was performed before the age of 7 months. For cataract surgery in older children (> or = 7 months) mean visual acuities were better with IOL implantation (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Cataract surgery with unilateral and bilateral IOL implantation can provide a beneficial effect on final visual outcome in children who are operated on before abnormal foveolar function develops.

Use of intraocular lenses in children with traumatic cataract in south India

AIMS

To assess the long term results of intraocular lens (IOL) implantation for traumatic cataract in young children in a developing country.

METHODS

Prospective hospital based study of 52 children (age 2-10 years) undergoing unilateral cataract extraction and IOL insertion for traumatic cataract performed by a single surgeon in south India. Children were reviewed regularly and followed up initially for 3 years.

RESULTS

There were no serious operative complications. Clinically significant posterior capsule opacification was almost universal (92%) and YAG capsulotomy or membranectomy was performed on 48 eyes. Some degree of pupil capture affected 35% of eyes and was complete in 6%. Visual acuity was 6/12 or better in 67% of eyes at the last follow up examination.

CONCLUSION

The visual acuity results 3 years after implantation of posterior chamber IOLs in older children with traumatic cataracts in south India were encouraging. In developing countries where follow up is unreliable it is essential to plan to clear the axial part of the posterior capsule either at the time of surgery or soon afterwards.

Outcomes and ocular growth rates after intraocular lens implantation in the first 2 years of life

PURPOSE

To evaluate the outcomes and ocular growth after intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in the first 2 years of life.

SETTING

University-affiliated eye institute.

METHODS

The medical records of consecutive children under 24 months of age who had cataract extraction with IOL implantation were reviewed. Change in axial length over time, postoperative complications, need for additional surgery, predicted versus actual postoperative refraction, and visual outcomes were recorded. Complication rates were compared with those in a similar group of age-matched patients who were left aphakic at the time of surgery.

RESULTS

Twenty-two eyes of 17 patients aged 12 days to 22 months had IOL implantation. Length of follow-up ranged from 2 to 36 months (mean 14 months). Visual acuity measurement, limited to fixation-preference testing in most patients, revealed amblyopia in the operated eye in the majority of cases. Postoperative refractive error, predicted using the Holladay formula, showed a mean error in prediction of 1.5 diopters (D) (range -1.8 to 4.1 D). Serial axial lengths in 11 patients with a mean follow-up of 20 months showed no significant difference in growth in the fellow versus the operated eye. There was no significant difference in complication rates between pseudophakic patients and the age-matched aphakic group. However, in 14 of 32 aphakic eyes (44%), a notation in the chart indicated that the patient had stopped wearing glasses or contact lenses for at least 2 months.

CONCLUSION

Intraocular lens implantation appeared to be a safe and effective alternative to contact lens or spectacle correction of aphakia in children younger than 2 years of age. It may aid amblyopia treatment by eliminating periods of uncorrected aphakia.

Pediatric cataract management with variations in surgical technique and aphakic optical correction

PURPOSE

The purpose of the study was to compare the results of three techniques of cataract surgery in children. Two methods included intraocular lens (IOL) implantation and one used contact lens correction of aphakia.

DESIGN

Nonrandomized clinical trial.

PARTICIPANTS

Seventy-seven eyes of 50 children between the ages of 2 1/2 and 16 years who had cataract surgery for the treatment of uncomplicated cataract.

INTERVENTION

Thirty-one eyes underwent a "conventional" style of implantation, and a "phaco-style" of surgery was used in 24 eyes. A contact lens was used as the primary means of aphakic correction in 22 eyes.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The visual results and complications of each type of surgery were compared.

RESULTS

Corrected visual acuities did not differ significantly between the three groups 6 months after surgery. The incidence and type of complications were significantly different. Better lens centration, less long-term iris changes, or wound-related problems were observed with "phaco-style" modification of the technique of IOL insertion.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric IOL insertion eliminated the need for contact lens wear and did not lead to a significantly different corrected visual acuity 6 months after surgery compared with lensectomy with contact lens correction. Adoption of some of the techniques of modern small-incision cataract surgery for pediatric IOL procedures produces a significant reduction in postoperative anterior segment complications compared with a standard limbal approach. Such modifications allow pediatric IOL insertion to be a safe alternative for the correction of pediatric aphakia.

Secondary capsule-supported intraocular lens implantation in children

PURPOSE

To evaluate surgical problems, postoperative complications, and visual results of secondary posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in children.

SETTING

L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India.

METHODS

A retrospective study was done of secondary IOL implantation in 27 children (35 eyes) who were not satisfied with aphakic glasses and were intolerant of or reluctant to use contact lenses. The extent of posterior capsular support was assessed prior to surgery. Additional surgical procedures were posterior synechiolysis (11 eyes), anterior vitrectomy (8 eyes), pupilloplasty (2 eyes), and membranectomy (2 eyes).

RESULTS

Postoperative complications included wound leak (1 eye), uveitis (5 eyes), peripheral anterior synechias (2 eyes), and retinal detachment (1 eye). Visual acuity improved or remained at the preoperative level in 34 eyes.

CONCLUSION

Secondary posterior chamber IOL implantation is an effective optical modality for managing pediatric aphakia. Observation must continue to determine the long-term safety of the procedure.

Infantile cataracts

Cataracts are one of the most treatable causes of visual impairment during infancy. Recent epidemiological studies have shown that they have a prevalence of 1.2 to 6.0 cases per 10,000 infants. The morphology of infantile cataracts can be helpful in establishing their etiology and prognosis. Early surgery and optical correction have resulted in an improved outcome for infants with either unilateral or bilateral cataracts. While contact lenses continue to be the standard means of optically correcting an infant's eyes after cataract surgery, intraocular lenses are gaining in popularity as an alternative means of optically correcting these eyes. Post-operative complications occur more commonly after infantile than adult cataract surgery and many of these complications do not develop until years later. As a result, it is critical that children be followed closely on a long term basis after infantile cataract surgery.

Intraocular lens implantation in children in the West Bank and Gaza

In order to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in paediatric aphakia, we reviewed the records of a consecutive series of 40 children, under 15 years of age, who had IOLs inserted for congenital and developmental cataracts between September 1990 and December 1992. Visual results and lens-induced complications were evaluated in 67 eyes with a mean follow-up of 27 months (range 12-38 months). In 52 eyes the cataract was removed by limbal lens aspiration and in 15 eyes by pars plicata lens aspiration. One-piece PMMA Sinskey-type posterior chamber implants were used in all cases. Sixty-three eyes had primary and 4 eyes secondary implants. Seventeen (49%) of 35 eyes with congenial cataract and 25 (78%) of 32 eyes with developmental cataract achieved a visual acuity of 6/18 or better. Marked anterior uveitis with pupillary membrane formation occurred in 9 (13%) of the 67 eyes. Visually significant posterior capsule opacification occurred in 5 (28%) of the 18 eyes with intact capsule. Our results demonstrate the suitability of IOL implantation in children from an area of low socioeconomic background, and suggest that IOL implantation is an effective and safe procedure for correction of paediatric aphakia. This may have implications for similar populations.

Haptic breakage following neonatal IOL implantation in a nonhuman primate model

To evaluate the long-term safety of implanting intraocular lenses (IOLs) in neonatal eyes using a nonhuman primate model, a one-piece all-polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) IOL was implanted into the posterior chamber of 21 neonatal Rhesus monkey eyes following a lensectomy and anterior vitrectomy. These monkeys then were monitored for 26 to 40 months for complications. The eyes from seven monkeys were studied histopathologically. One or both haptics broke on 7 of the 21 (33%) IOLs in a mean of 21 months (range 6 to 31 months) after their implantation. Only one of the haptics from these seven eyes was found to be in the capsular bag when these eyes were studied histopathologically. Nine haptics had eroded into the iris leaflets, two into the ciliary body, and one into the anterior chamber. One additional haptic was in the sulcus. The haptics of one-piece all-PMMA IOLs may break if implanted in neonatal eyes. A number of factors likely contributed to haptic breakage in these eyes, including an increased number of reoperations, malpositioning of IOL haptics, rapid circumferential and axial growth, and the formation of large Soemmerring's rings.

Intraocular lens implantation in infants with congenital cataracts

We evaluated 21 eyes of 13 infants between two and eight months old who had primary posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation for congenital cataracts between 1988 and 1993. Twelve eyes had a posterior capsulorhexis or plaque peeling at the time of implantation and one eye had a vitrectomy. Eight eyes had no posterior capsule procedure during the initial surgery. Follow-up ranged from six months to five years. All eyes developed one or multiple posterior synechias and all, except one, required secondary capsulectomy and vitrectomy between one month and one year. Twenty eyes attained stable IOL fixation and a clear visual axis. In one eye, the IOL decentered downward. Patients with bilateral cataracts had greater visual improvement than those with a cataract in one eye only. No patient could manage spectacles postoperatively. Our findings show the benefits of posterior capsulectomy and anterior vitrectomy done in the early postoperative period and that IOL implantation in infants is a reasonable treatment in some parts of the world.