title: Results of intraocular lens implantation in paediatric aphakia.
abstract: Intraocular lenses were implanted in 16 eyes of 13 patients with congenital cataract, and visual progress was plotted using a preferential-looking technique. Initial surgery was by lens aspiration with preservation of the posterior capsule, and subsequent posterior capsulotomy without anterior vitrectomy. Poly-HEMA posterior chamber lenses were used, usually as a primary procedure but in four cases as a secondary procedure after contact lens failure. No serious complications were encountered. Most eyes achieved a very significant visual improvement, and none were worse than preoperatively. Residual refractive error was highly unpredictable, but did not exceed 6 dioptres. The importance of rigorous occlusion therapy is stressed. With close follow-up, this procedure offers an effective and safe method for the correction of unilateral paediatric aphakia, and, in selected cases only, for bilateral aphakia.
authors.affiliation: Bristol Eye Hospital.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Markham
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Bloom
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chandna
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Newcomb
mesh_terms: D002386:Cataract / Q000151:congenital*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000601:surgery; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D014792:Visual Acuity