Visual outcome of cataract surgery in paediatric uveitis

Abstract

1. To analyse the visual outcome in patients of paediatric uveitis who underwent cataract surgery; 2. To analyse the post-operative complications of cataract surgery in paediatric uveitis.Retrospective observational study was done on patients of uveitis who underwent cataract surgery. Patients who were under 18 years and co-operative for examination were included.They underwent Phacoaspiration with posterior chamber IOL implantation by a single surgeon after 3 months of activity free interval, BCVA(in Log MAR) in every follow up, anterior segment examination using slit lamp and posterior segment examination using IDO, post-operative complications and Intra ocular pressure was recorded using Noncontact tonometer.Uveitis was classified using the SUN classification of uveitis. Use of corticosteroids, biologics and immunosuppressive drug were collected at each visit. Total of 18 subjects diagnosed with cataract as a complication of uveitis & undergone cataract surgery were studied (6 were females, 12 were males) 9 had anterior uveitis, 1had intermediate uveitis and 5 had pan uveitis. JRA (66.7%) was the most common cause identified. Improvement in vision from baseline was observed post-surgery at the end of first, third and 6th month which was statistically significant (P- Value <0.05). Average duration of disease before they underwent surgery was 18 months. Most common post op complication was posterior capsular opacification (50 %), others include secondary glaucoma (38.9), exudative retinal detachment (5.6%) and Vitritis (22.2%)Unlike adult uveitic patients, the surgical management of paediatric uveitic cataract is both challenging and controversial, and the surgery itself has been associated with poor visual outcomes. However, our study had shown that with implantation of IOL, good immunosuppressants and control of the disease can give these children a good visual outcome.