Preventing recurrent opacification of the visual pathway after pediatric cataract surgery.

Abstract

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.

• Authors: Paul W Hardwig, Jay C Erie, Helmut Buettner
• Journal: Journal of AAPOS : the official publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (J AAPOS) Vol. 8 Issue 6 Pg. 560-5 (Dec 2004) ISSN: 1091-8531 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15616504 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Cataract (prevention & control)
• Cataract Extraction
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Humans
• Infant
• Lens Capsule, Crystalline (surgery)
• Lens Implantation, Intraocular
• Male
• Postoperative Complications (prevention & control)
• Retrospective Studies
• Secondary Prevention
• Visual Pathways
• Vitrectomy