title: Long-term rates of PCO following small incision foldable acrylic intraocular lens implantation in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the long-term incidence of postoperative posterior capsular opacification (PCO) in children undergoing small incision foldable acrylic lens implantation with at least 2 years of follow up.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 18 children, 26 eyes underwent small incision cataract extraction with posterior chamber foldable acrylic lens implantation. The posterior capsule was left intact in all patients at the time of surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With a mean follow up of 2.75 years and a mean age at surgery of 8.25 years, 13 of 26 eyes (50%) developed visually significant PCO requiring intervention. In the group of children under 4 years of age, 5 of 5 eyes (100%) developed visually significant PCO, while 8 of 21 eyes (38%) in the group of children over 4 years of age developed opacification. Four of 26 eyes (15%) required two procedures (either repeat Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy or pars plana secondary membrane removal) to clear the visual axis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, the incidence of PCO following small incision acrylic lens implantation in children over 4 years of age is lower than those rates reported by conventional large incision rigid lens techniques with a minimum of 2 years follow up. This technique has advantages over conventional techniques in older children because it offers less surgical intervention, a lower cost to patients, and less risk of vitreous and retinal complications.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Stager
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Weakley
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hunter
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000293:Adolescent; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins