Study on the steropsis in children after unilateral cataract extraction

Abstract

Objective To asses stereoacuity and the factors that influence stereopsis in children after unilateral cataract extraction.Methods Sixty-two children who were diagnosed as unilateral cataract and underwent cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation were included in this study.Data are recorded on age at presentation and the surgery,the presence of strabismus,the refractive error,and the best corrected distant visual acuity (BCDVA) of both eyes and stereoacuity.Sixty-two patients were followed up for 14 ～ 60 months.Results Sixty-two patients were divided into two groups according to stereoacuity.Thirty-one patients in group A achieved stereopsis better than 400 s of arc.Group B had 31 patients whose stereoacuity was poorer than 400 s of arc.The mean age at presentation and surgery were 4.6 ± 3.4 and 6.3 ±4.5 years in group A and 2.1 ±2.1 and 2.4 ±2.2 years in group B.51.6％ of patients in group A achieved a BCDVA of 20/40 or better,but in group B,only 6.5％ of patients achieved a BCDVA of 20/40.Those who had strabismus after cataract surgery were 6.5％ in group A and 35.5％ in group B.There was statistically significant difference in age at presentation and the surgery (t =4.03,4.53,P ＜0.01),good BCDVA(x2 =15.34,P ＜ 0.01) and absence of strabismus (x2 =7.88,P ＜ 0.01) between two groups.Conclusions Stereopsis can develop in children after pediatric unilateral cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation.Good stereoacuity is correlated with later manifesting cataracts,absence of strabismus and good BCDVA. Key words: Cataract extraction; Depth perception; Vision, monocular; Child