Resolution visual fields in children surgically treated for congenital cataract

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and high‐pass resolution perimetry (HRP) visual fields in children surgically treated for congenital cataract. Methods: BCVA and HRP was recorded from 10 aphakic children, aged 10‐15 years and surgically treated for bilateral dense cataract before the age of nine months, and from six aphakic children, aged 10‐15 years and surgically treated for bilateral partial cataract at ages between 6 months and 9 years. Twenty‐three healthy children, 11 years of age, served as controls. Results: The aphakic children had significantly (p < 0.0001) lower BCVA in their best eye (range 0.1‐1.3) compared to controls (range 1.0‐1.6). Two aphakic children were visually disabled according to WHO. The children with previous dense bilateral cataract showed significantly (p < 0.05) lower sensitivity in their resolution visual fields (from their best eyes) compared to both controls and children with previous partial cataract. The dense cataract group also showed significantly (p<0.05) smaller difference between the innermost (5 deg) and the outermost (20‐30 deg) eccentricity locations in their visual fields than the other two groups. Conclusions: Dense cataract, even when surgically treated before the age of nine months, causes persistent impairment of spatial vision both in the fovea and the visual field. Partial cataract appears only to reduce visual acuity.