Outcomes of pediatric cataract surgery with triamcinolone-assisted vitrectomy.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: To evaluate outcomes in pediatric patients undergoing lensectomy, posterior capsulotomy, and triamcinolone-assisted vitrectomy for congenital cataract.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 34 patients younger than 72 months who underwent lensectomy, posterior capsulotomy, and triamcinolone-assisted vitrectomy with or without intraocular lens (IOL) implantation for cataract at the National Taiwan University Hospital from July 2006 to December 2012.

RESULTS

Fifty-one eyes from 34 patients with cataract (unilateral in 17 patients, bilateral in 17 patients) were included. The mean age at surgery was 26.74 months (range: 2-72 months). The mean postoperative follow-up was 27.8 months (range: 6-72 months). Primary IOL implantation was performed in 25 eyes, 21 of which had the IOL implanted in the capsular bag. Fifty eyes had a central round pupil. The median logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity was 0.3 in patients with unilateral cataract and 0.1 in those with bilateral cataract. Three eyes (5.9%) developed visual axis opacification (VAO) and required further surgery. Univariate analysis using Fisher's exact test indicated that surgery in the first 12 months of life was significantly associated with development of VAO (p=0.047). The incidence of postoperative VAO was approximately 15.8% in this age group.

CONCLUSION

Triamcinolone-assisted vitrectomy can be used in pediatric cataract surgery without serious long-term adverse effects. While the incidence of VAO is low, it appears unavoidable in approximately one-sixth of patients who undergo surgery before 12 months of age.