title: Visual outcome following the reduction or cessation of patching therapy after early unilateral cataract surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact on visual acuity of reducing or abandoning patching therapy during the first 6 years of life following early unilateral cataract surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the medical records of 9 children with unilateral congenital cataracts who underwent cataract surgery when 6 weeks or younger. All had good compliance with optical correction until 6 years of age and with patching therapy until at least 12 months of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The children underwent cataract surgery at a mean (SD) age of 21.7 (9.5) days. At 12 months of age, the children were patched a mean (SD) of 6.7 (2.4) hours/d. Patching compliance declined steadily thereafter. By 6 years of age, they were only being patched a mean (SD) of 1.7 (2.0) hours/d. Four of the 9 children abandoned patching prior to the 6-year examination. Acuities improved or remained the same for 3 of these children but worsened for 1 child by 2 lines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that some children who undergo early unilateral cataract surgery and are compliant with their optical correction and patching during early childhood can maintain a good visual outcome even if patching therapy is reduced or discontinued prior to their sixth birthday.
authors.affiliation: Emory Eye Center, 1365-B Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. slamber@emory.edu
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Plager
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lynn
authors.forename: M Edward
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D001036:Aphakia, Postcataract / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002386:Cataract / Q000151:congenital* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010349:Patient Compliance; D019591:Pseudophakia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012683:Sensory Deprivation; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*