Simultaneous surgery for bilateral pediatric cataracts.
OBJECTIVE
To perform a review of the literature comparing the safety of bilateral simultaneous lensectomies in children versus the risk of more than one general anesthesia within a short time frame, and to study the results of bilateral surgery in a small group of patients.


METHODS
Bilateral simultaneous lensectomies were performed in 9 children (18 eyes), in whom increased anesthetic risks warranted this approach.


RESULTS
There were no postoperative complications for at least 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Data in the current literature on endophthalmitis after cataract surgery and on the risks of repetitive anesthesia are inadequate to weigh the risk of bilateral endophthalmitis against the reduced risk of one anesthesia versus two and the advantages of simultaneous early visual rehabilitation. Until such information becomes available, simultaneous removal of bilateral infantile cataracts should probably be reserved for selected cases where the anesthetic risk is higher than average.
Zwaan
J
J
Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
D000768:Anesthesia, General; D002386:Cataract / Q000151:congenital*; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D003261:Contact Lenses; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012307:Risk Factors