Long-term corneal endothelial cell changes in pediatric intraocular lens reposition and exchange cases.

PURPOSE

To evaluate long-term corneal endothelial cell changes of intraocular lens (IOL) reposition and exchange in children.

SETTING

State key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China

METHODS

In this retrospective study, all IOL reposition and exchange procedures performed in patients under 14 years old between January 1999 and April 2009 were included. Follow-up outcomes included corneal endothelial cell density, hexagonality, coefficient of variance, average cell size.

RESULTS

IOL reposition procedures in 12 eyes (12 cases) (reposition group, RPG), and IOL exchanges in eight eyes (eight cases) (exchange group, EXG) were performed because of IOL pupillary capture or IOL dislocation. Median of follow-up was 44.5 months in RPG and 66.2 months in EXG. The density of corneal endothelial cells in RPG (2,053 ± 493/mm(2)) and EXG (2,100 ± 758/mm(2)) was significantly decreased in comparison to the control eyes (3,116 ± 335/mm(2)). Hexagonality of corneal endothelial cells and coefficient of variance showed no difference among the control group, RPG and EXG (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The density of corneal endothelial cells was conspicuously decreased after IOL reposition or exchange procedures in childhood cases. Longer follow-up must be conducted in these cases.