title: Visual rehabilitation by scleral fixation of posterior chamber intraocular lenses in amblyopic aphakic children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report on the outcome of scleral fixated posterior chamber intraocular lens (S-IOL) implantation in aphakic amblyopic children after 1 year.
  
  
  METHODS
  Amblyopic children with aphakia after traumatic and congenital cataract surgery unsuitable for spectacle or contact lens correction were operated with an anterior vitrectomy and inside-out double thread scleral fixation of an Alcon CZ70BD pcIOL. Refraction and vision was compared after 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 2001-2006, 23 S-IOLs were implanted in 16 children (19 unilateral, 4 bilateral) aged 2-16 years: 10 eyes with traumatic [Group A], and 13 eyes with congenital cataracts including 3 eyes with ectopia lentis [Group B]. Preoperative UCVA compared to postoperative UCVA improved in 9/10 eyes in group A and 12/13 eyes in group B. Preoperative BCVA compared to postoperative UCVA improved in 9/10 eyes (90 percent) in group A and 4/13 eyes (31 percent) in group B. Mean age at surgery in group A was 6.8 years (1.5-16yrs) and in group B 10.5 years (4-16 years). More than one year elapsed in 2/10 eyes of group A and 8/13 eyes in group B. Postoperative refraction was within 2.0D of target in 17/23 eyes. Complications included temporary IOP rise in 2, vitreous hemorrhage in 1, and iris capture in 3 eyes. Two eyes required revision surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  S-IOL implantation may be beneficial for aphakic children lacking other means for visual rehabilitation to improve vision. Amblyopia may be improved in most trauma, but only few congenital cataract eyes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and School of Ophthalmic Technicians, Sultan Qaboos University College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Anuradha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ganesh
authors.forename: Alexander A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bialasiewicz
authors.forename: Sana M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Al-Zuhaibi
authors.forename: Buthaina I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Sabt
authors.forename: Shyam S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ganguly