Unilateral Congenital and Developmental Cataracts in Children in India: How Useful Were Long-Term Outcomes of Surgery? Miraj Pediatric Cataract Study 4.

PURPOSE

To study visual outcomes and stereopsis after a 3-8 year follow-up in unilateral congenital and developmental cataracts.

DESIGN

Clinical case series.

METHODS

Children who underwent surgery for unilateral pediatric cataract from 2004 to 2008 were traced and reexamined prospectively from 2010 to 2011. Demographic and clinical factors were noted from their retrospective chart readings. All children underwent visual acuity assessment and comprehensive ocular examinations including stereoacuity in a standardized manner during the prospective follow-up visits. Details of amblyopia management were recorded for univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Forty-eight eyes of 48 children had a mean follow-up of 4.4 years between surgery and assessment (SD, 1.6 years). Twenty-four (50%) were boys, and the average age at surgery was 10.2 years (SD, 4.1). Two (4.2%) were congenital, 14 (29.2%) developmental, and 32 (66.7%) congenital/developmental cataracts. Preoperatively, 38 (79.2%) had vision less than 3/60. After surgery, 12 (25%) had improved best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 6/18 or greater, 4 (8.3%) had BCVA of 6/24 to 6/60, and 32 (66.7%) had BCVA of less than 6/60. Eleven (22.9%) had binocular single vision 480 seconds or less of arc on Titmus test. Preoperative vision (P = 0.034) was significantly associated with postoperative visual outcomes, but not age at surgery (P = 0.14), sex (P = 0.897), type of surgery (P = 0.371), or type of intraocular lens (P = 0.66). The use of phacoemulsification was associated with better vision, but it was not significant (P = 0.069).

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term visual outcomes in unilateral pediatric cataracts were subnormal due to deprivation amblyopia, but vision improved over preoperative levels and helped in binocular stereoacuity. Some preoperative vision was associated with better visual outcomes.