title: Systemic steroid-induced cataracts in children: long-term changes in morphology and visual acuity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the long-term visual prognosis and surgical rates of steroid-induced cataracts in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of children diagnosed with steroid-induced cataracts who were followed up for more than 5 years were retrospectively reviewed. Children over 3 years of age who cooperated with the initial visual acuity test (Snellen chart) were included. The following data were evaluated: best-corrected visual acuity at the time of diagnosis and at final follow-up, morphologic changes in the cataract, and surgical outcomes and associated systemic diseases that required steroid treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 59 eyes of 30 patients with posterior subcapsular cataracts were included. The mean follow-up period after diagnosis was 7.6 ± 2.9 years (range, 5-14.5 years). Cataracts were graded on the basis of the size of lens opacity. Cataract progression was defined as widening of the lens opacity. Cataracts progressed in 20 eyes (34%) and remained unchanged in 39 eyes (66%). Three patients underwent bilateral cataract surgery because of cataract progression and significant loss of visual acuity. Of the 53 eyes of 27 children (90%) who did not undergo surgery, best-corrected visual acuity did not change significantly during the follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study cohort, cataract progressed in 34% of the eyes with steroid-induced cataract; however, surgery was required in only 10% of the children, and in these patients the postoperative visual outcome was favorable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Soh Youn
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Jeong Hun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seong-Joon
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Suk
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002386:Cataract / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013256:Steroids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids