Author(s)

Aslihan Uzun, Huban Atilla

Department of Ophthalmology, Training and Research Hospital, Ordu University, Ordu, Turkey.

Purpose: To evaluate post-surgical complications in patients who were operated for nontraumatic pediatric cataracts in our clinic. Methods: Medical records of 62 patients (101 eyes) that underwent cataract surgery younger than 15 years of age, without history of ocular trauma and with a minimum follow-up period of 6 months, were reviewed retrospectively. Results: The most common initial complaint was leukocoria. Thirty-nine patients (62.9%) had bilateral cataracts and 23 patients (37.1%) had unilateral cataracts. The most common type was posterior polar cataract (22%) in patients with unilateral cataracts, and total cataract (33%) in patients with bilateral cataracts. The overall prevalence of postoperative complications was 58%, visual axis opacification (VAO) being the most common one (39%). The incidence of VAO was significantly higher in eyes with intact posterior capsules. Secondary glaucoma occurred in 12 (12%) eyes. Thirty-one (50%) patients were orthophoria, 17 (27%) patients had esotropia, and 14 (23%) patients had exotropia. Additional surgery for all of these complications was performed in 53 (53%) eyes. Conclusions: Despite appropriate surgical treatment of nontraumatic pediatric cataracts, post-surgical complications including VAO, glaucoma, or strabismus remain an important cause of morbidity in these patients. Posterior capsulotomy and anterior vitrectomy must be performed in all children below 6 years to reduce the need for additional surgery for VAO.

Congenital Cataract, Pediatric Cataract, Visual Axis Opacification, Glaucoma, Surgery

Uzun, A. and Atilla, H. (2020) Surgical Outcomes of Nontraumatic Pediatric Cataracts. Open Journal of Ophthalmology, 10, 115-122. doi: 10.4236/ojoph.2020.102013.