Pediatric cataract surgery with or without anterior vitrectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate after-cataract formation in children having cataract surgery with or without dry anterior vitrectomy and possible differences according to age.


METHODS
St. Erik's Eye Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.


METHODS
This retrospective study comprised 85 eyes of 85 patients from 0 to 15 years old who had cataract surgery with or without anterior vitrectomy after the implantation of an intraocular lens (IOL). All patients had primary posterior capsulorhexis but no optic capture. Thirty-five patients received a heparin-surface-modified poly(methyl methacrylate) IOL (809C, Pharmacia & Upjohn) and 50 patients, a foldable acrylic IOL (AcrySof(R), Alcon). The records from follow-up visits at the patients' home clinics were used for analysis.


RESULTS
Significantly fewer children were operated on for after-cataract if they had cataract surgery with anterior vitrectomy (P <.05). This applied to both IOL types. In the children older than 7 years in the AcrySof IOL group, there was no difference in the frequency of after-cataract surgery (P >.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In children younger than 7 years with an AcrySof IOL, the rate of after-cataract surgery was significantly less in those who had an anterior vitrectomy at the time of cataract surgery (P <.05). In younger children, it is advantageous to perform cataract surgery with anterior vitrectomy to help prevent after-cataract formation; however, vitrectomy is not necessary in older children.
Kugelberg
Maria
M
St. Erik's Eye Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. m.kuelberg@sankterik.se
Zetterström
Charlotta
C
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000293:Adolescent; D000869:Anterior Eye Segment / Q000601:surgery*; D019923:Capsulorhexis / Q000379:methods*; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D006493:Heparin; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014821:Vitrectomy
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D006493:Heparin; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate