A Model to Predict Postoperative Axial Length in Children Undergoing Bilateral Cataract Surgery With Primary Intraocular Lens Implantation

Abstract

To develop a model for predicting postoperative globe axial length (AL) in children undergoing bilateral cataract surgery with primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in children older than 2 years. Retrospective case series. Children were included only if AL data were available for both eyes before surgery and at least 1 year after surgery. We analyzed variables that could influence globe axial growth and developed a multivariable generalized estimating equation regression model to predict postoperative AL. Sixty-four children were included. The median age at surgery and at follow-up was 5.1 and 12.5 years, respectively. AL measurements were obtained in both eyes during 242 visits. The median AL before and at last follow-up was 22.2 and 23.1mm, respectively. Beta value for the final model to predict postoperative AL is as below: intercept (1.93), preoperative AL (0.91), age at cataract surgery (-0.07), age at follow-up (0.14), and interaction between age at surgery and age at follow-up (-0.005). Using this model, for a hypothetical patient operated at 2.5 years of age with a 20.5mm AL would be estimated to have a 22.8mm AL at 18 years of age. IOL power selection is a major challenge of pediatric cataract surgery attributable to unpredictable future eye growth. This model theoretically could be used to predict individual future adult size AL for each child undergoing cataract surgery, helping the surgeon to customize the selection of an IOL power at implantation and also to help the parents understand what to expect.