Astigmatism after small-incision clear corneal cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation in children.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the magnitude of postoperative astigmatism in children having cataract extraction with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation through a 3.0 mm superior clear corneal incision.


METHODS
Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.


METHODS
This retrospective chart review comprised all pediatric patients having cataract surgery with IOL implantation through a 3.0 mm clear corneal incision from 1997 to 2002. One hundred two eyes of 75 patients were included. All refractions were performed manually by an experienced pediatric ophthalmologist.


RESULTS
The mean postoperative retinoscopic cylinder in all patients was 0.63 diopter (D) (range 0.0 to 4.50 D) at 1 month, 0.40 D (range 0.0 to 1.75 D) at 6 months, and 0.51 D (range 0.0 to 2.50 D) at 1 year. Patients aged 0 to 36 months at the time of surgery had a mean postoperative cylinder of 0.22 D at 1 month, 0.03 D at 6 months, and 0.21 D at 1 year. Patients between 36 months and 6 years of age at surgery had a mean refractive cylinder of 0.50 D, 0.38 D, and 0.75 D, respectively. Patients older than 6 years at surgery had a mean refractive cylinder of 0.94 D, 0.75 D, and 0.76 D, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Small-incision clear corneal cataract extraction with IOL implantation in children led to minimal postoperative astigmatism that remained stable over time. Less astigmatism was observed in children having surgery before they were 36 months old.
Bradfield
Yasmin S
YS
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
Plager
David A
DA
Neely
Daniel E
DE
Sprunger
Derek T
DT
Sondhi
Naval
N
D000293:Adolescent; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000209:etiology*; D002386:Cataract / Q000151:congenital; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies