Surgical technique, visual outcome, and complications of pediatric intraocular lens implantation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate retrospectively the surgical technique, visual outcome, and complications of pediatric cataract extraction (CE) and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.


METHODS
Forty-three patients ages 2 to 12 underwent CE with IOL implantation with a minimum follow up of 1 month.


RESULTS
All IOLs were implanted in the posterior chamber with 17 (40%) in the bag, 25 (58%) sulcus fixated, and one (2%) partially in the bag (one haptic in the bag, one in the sulcus). Primary posterior capsulectomy was performed in 12 (28%) cases. A final visual acuity of at least 20/40 was achieved in 26 (60%) and at least 20/80 in 32 (74%). Posterior capsule opacification developed in 18 (42%) and pupillary capture in 7 (16%). Seventeen (40%) patients had postoperative visual acuity worse than 20/40. Of these, nine (53%) had this visual outcome as a result of presumed amblyopia.


CONCLUSIONS
Posterior chamber IOL implantation affords a safe and effective method of visual rehabilitation for cataractous children 2 years of age and older. Amblyopia and antecedent posterior segment trauma, rather than IOL-related or surgical complications, are the limiting factors in final visual outcome.
Simons
B D
BD
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida, USA.
Siatkowski
R M
RM
Schiffman
J C
JC
Flynn
J T
JT
Capó
H
H
Muñoz
M
M
D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000601:surgery; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity