Unilateral Congenital Cataract Research Articles

Visual Results Following Surgery for Unilateral Congenital Cataract at a Tertiary Public Hospital in Maharashtra

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the visual outcomes of unilateral congenital cataract surgery in children.  Methods: A total of 204 eyes from 204 children, aged 2 to 12 months, undergoing unilateral congenital cataract surgery between December 2022 and March 2024, were included. The study analyzed data from a three-year follow-up and used chi-square tests to assess the relationship between visual outcomes and the age at surgery, considering P < 0.05 as statistically significant.  Results: Of 204 eyes, 64 (31.4%) underwent surgery at 2-3 months and 140 (68.6%) at 3-12 months. Visual acuity was measured postoperatively, revealing significantly poorer outcomes in children aged 3 months or older (P < 0.001) compared to those aged 2-3 months.  Conclusions: It is essential to detect and treat congenital cataracts early, followed by long-term postoperative rehabilitation, to improve visual outcomes in affected children, particularly in cases of unilateral cataract, which are more prone to developing amblyopia.

Psychosocial Impact of Patching in Unilateral Congenital Cataract

Psychosocial Impact of Patching in Unilateral Congenital Cataract

Patching in Children With Unilateral Congenital Cataract and Child Functioning and Parenting Stress

Parents may be concerned about the adverse outcomes of occlusion therapy in children treated for unilateral congenital cataract (UCC). To determine whether occlusion therapy in children treated for UCC with poor visual outcomes is negatively associated with poorer child and/or family functioning. This cohort study was conducted in 2023 using data collected between 2006 and 2016 in the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study (IATS). IATS participants with a visual acuity (VA) of 20/200 or worse were included. Statistical analysis was performed from July 2022 to October 2023. Caregivers reported the mean daily minutes of patching during the 12 months prior to the VA assessment at 4.5 years of age. Patching was categorized as minimal (<15 minutes per day), moderate (15 to <120 minutes per day), or extensive (≥120 minutes per day). At 4.25 and 10.5 years of age, caregivers reported stress associated with the parenting role using the Parenting Stress Index and the Ocular Treatment Index and child behavior problems using the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist. Motor skills were assessed at age 54 months using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition. Children completed the Harter Self-Perception Profile for Children at age 10.5 years. One-way analysis of variance and χ2 tests were used to compare outcomes by amount of patching. Patching data were available for 47 of 53 children (88.7%) with a VA of 20/200 or worse. Among these 47 children with patching data included in the study, 20 (42.5%) were female, 27 (57.5%) were male, 12 (25.5%) were reported to have been patched fewer than 15 minutes per day, 11 (23.4%) were patched 16 to 119 minutes per day, and 24 (51.1%) were patched at least 120 minutes per day. Parenting stress, child behavior problems, motor functioning, and child self-perception were similar in all groups. For example, after adjusting for gender and insurance status, there was a nonsignificant difference between mean stress scores of 11.0 (95% CI, -4.5 to 26.5) points for parents who reported minimal patching vs parents who reported patching at least 120 minutes per day, and there was no significant difference in children's report of their global self-worth (0.0 [95% CI, -0.4 to 0.3] points). Occlusion therapy was not negatively associated with family or child functioning. Although the sample size was limited, these results do not support changes to the current practice guidelines.

Odległe wyniki leczenia dzieci chorych na zaćmę wrodzoną jednostronną i ze stożkiem tylnym soczewki

The studies conducted were aimed at showing the importance of early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of congenital cataracts in children. We can see that the treatment is multi-stage and often difficult not only for the performed surgical procedures but also for the further rehabilitation of eyesight. At the same time, we show how many benefits can be obtained by properly treated children. The study group consisted of patients treated at the Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology in Katowice in 2007–2014 with unilateral congenital cataract with posterior cone or unilateral congenital cataract and with simultaneous or secondary implantation of an artificial intraocular lens. 104 eyes were examined in 52 children at the age of 52 from 1 to 17 years of age.

Multifocal intraocular lens implantation in children with unilateral congenital cataracts.

To evaluate the vision recovery, reconstruction of binocular visual function, and influencing factors after multifocal intraocular lens implantation in children with unilateral congenital cataracts. University hospital. Prospective clinical study. In the prospective clinical study, 55 children aged 3 to 14 with unilateral congenital cataracts received multifocal intraocular lenses (TECNIS ZMB00) posterior optic capture from 2019 to 2022. Corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA; 5 m), distance-corrected intermediate visual acuity (DCIVA; 66 cm), distance-corrected near visual acuity (DCNVA; 33 cm), stereoscopic vision, visual quality (objective scatter index [OSI] and modulation transfer function [MTF]), axial length (AL), keratometry (K), and contrast sensitivity (CS), as well as postoperative occlusion compliance were evaluated before and after surgery. At the final follow-up, 90.91% (50/55) patients showed significant improvement in visual acuity (VA) after surgery. CDVA, DCIVA and DCNVA were 0.23 ± 0.17, 0.39 ± 0.15, and 0.44 ± 0.15 logMAR, respectively. 69.09% (38/55) patients achieved good VA (better than 0.3 logMAR).52.76% (25/48) patients had a positive Titmus test. OSI and MTF were 1.24 ± 0.91 and 42.45 ± 12.30, respectively. 73.68% (28/38) of the patients (better than 0.3 logMAR) underwent strict occlusion therapy. Postoperative VA is correlated with preoperative CDVA ( r = -0.829, P < .001), corneal astigmatism ( r = 0.384, P = .036), △AL (difference between the cataract eyes and contralateral eyes, r = -0.490, P = .006), and occlusion compliance ( r = -0.806, P < .001). Multifocal intraocular lens implantation could obtain relatively satisfactory VA (CDVA, DCIVA and DCNVA) and the binocular visual function of children with unilateral congenital cataracts. Postoperative VA is related to preoperative VA, corneal astigmatism, △AL, and occlusion compliance.

Managing Pediatric Cataract Patients: Amblyopia Treatment and Binocularity Outcomes

ABSTRACT Unilateral congenital cataracts present multiple barriers in the development of vision and stereoacuity despite the improved visual optics that early surgery, contact lenses and intraocular lenses (IOL) have provided. With better understanding of the latent period (the timeframe in which the abnormal event has no long-term effect on visual development in the deprived eye) and the critical periods (the age range during which developing brains can be altered in a profound and permanent way by abnormal experience) for stereoacuity and amblyopia we can focus our treatment methods to not only improve vision but also develop binocularity. Fifty years ago, it was believed that it was almost impossible for an eye with a unilateral congenital cataract to achieve good visual acuity. Twenty-five years ago, we believed that it was almost impossible for an eye with a unilateral cataract to achieve stereoacuity. It is time to expand our belief that the best that we can do with the eye in unilateral congenital cataract is to create a spare.

Clinical observation of spontaneous brain activity in children with congenital cortical cataract amblyopia

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of spontaneous brain activity in children with congenital cortical cataract amblyopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Twenty cases of unilateral congenital cortical cataract amblyopia (unilateral amblyopia group) and 14 cases of bilateral congenital cortical cataract amblyopia (bilateral amblyopia group) were enrolled from January 2022 to December 2022 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. Seventeen age and gender matched children with normal visual acuity were recruited as the healthy control group. Resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) was performed on all participants, and the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) technique was used to analyze their spontaneous brain activities. The original ALFF value of each voxel was divided by the average ALFF value of the whole brain to obtain the standardized ALFF value (referred to as ALFF value), which reflected the intensity of spontaneous brain activity in different brain regions. General demographic data were compared using one-way analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis test, and chi-square test. Comparison of ALFF values was conducted using one-way analysis of variance. Results: There were no significant differences in age, gender, distribution of amblyopic eye or non-dominant eye, and degree of refractive error among the three groups (all P>0.05). Compared to the healthy control group, the unilateral amblyopia group showed higher ALFF values in the right posterior lobe of the cerebellum (67 voxels, t=3.48) and left posterior lobe of the cerebellum (71 voxels, t=4.09), and lower ALFF values in the right postcentral gyrus (91 voxels, t=-3.91), right inferior parietal lobule (73 voxels, t=-4.88), right inferior frontal gyrus (78 voxels, t=-4.09), left inferior parietal lobule (556 voxels, t=-4.82), and left inferior frontal gyrus (122 voxels, t=-4.27) (all P<0.01). The bilateral amblyopia group showed higher ALFF values in the right insula (60 voxels, t=3.54), right Rolandic operculum (69 voxels, t=3.73), right posterior lobe of the cerebellum (54 voxels, t=3.43), and left posterior lobe of the cerebellum (143 voxels, t=3.69), and lower ALFF values in the left inferior frontal gyrus (99 voxels, t=-4.39), left postcentral gyrus (231 voxels, t=-4.28), and right inferior parietal lobule (54 voxels, t=-3.77) (all P<0.01). Compared to the unilateral amblyopia group, the bilateral amblyopia group showed higher ALFF values in the left middle frontal gyrus (52 voxels, t=3.15, P=0.029), left posterior lobe of the cerebellum (77 voxels, t=3.39, P=0.001), and right Rolandic operculum (53 voxels, t=3.59, P=0.007). Conclusion: Children with congenital cortical cataract amblyopia exhibit altered spontaneous brain activity in multiple brain regions, and there are differences in spontaneous brain activity changes between unilateral and bilateral amblyopia.

A Baby Girl Born with Bilateral Congenital Cataract to A Mother with Unilateral Congenital Cataract Treated in Childhood

We hereby disseminate a case of a baby girl, who at ten months of age received MMR vaccine but was discovered to later have unilateral congenital cataract at eight years of age. At 25 years, she was married giving birth to a baby boy who had normal vision. Unfortunately, the second baby girl was detected to have bilateral cataract for which the baby at four months of age underwent lens aspiration and anterior vitrectomy of both eyes at a gap of one week. A month later a glass with bilateral +21 Diopters were prescribed. She is planned for intraocular lens implant at around four years of age. She is on currently on visual rehabilitation and treatment for amblyopia Learning lesson from this case being the fact that congenital cataract may run in family and may impart vision deprivation in the offspring; therefore, the importance of preconception counseling is important.

Long-term effects of early/late-onset visual deprivation on macular and retinal nerve fibers layer structure: A pilot study.

Tomographic analysis of macular and peripapillary retinal nerve fibers layer (RNFL) thickness in patients with history of congenital (CC) and developmental cataract (DC). Analysis of macular and RNFL thickness using a spectral-domain optical coherence tomography was performed. Retinal layers thickness was measured using the internal segmentation software. Measurements of affected (unilateral and bilateral), contralateral eyes and control eyes were compared. Patients with history of CC or DC (n = 13 and 11 respectively) and 35 healthy control subjects were enrolled. Thicker inner and outer nuclear layers (INL, ONL) and thicker ONL were found when CC and DC group when compared to controls respectively. Bilateral CC showed the most relevant differences. Slight thickening of CC inner retinal layers were found when compared to DC. Increased superonasal RNFL thickness was found in CC group when compared to DC and controls. Thickening of RNFL of contralateral unaffected eyes of unilateral CC were found when compared to controls. Significant macular and RNFL thickness changes between CC, DC patients and controls that partially involve also contralateral unaffected eyes of unilateral congenital cataract were found. CC and DC groups show significant differences only in inner retinal layers thickness. Our data suggest that early visual deprivation may influence retinal arrangements occurring during development involving predominantly the outer nuclear layer and para/perifoveal inner retinal layers, and confirm that early treatment of CC allow to achieve better long-term visual outcome. Moreover functional and structural data support the hypothesis that unilateral amblyopia is not exclusively an unilateral issue.

Evaluation of Macular Ganglion Cell-Inner Plexiform Layer in Children with Deprivational Amblyopia Who Underwent Unilateral Cataract Surgery.

Background and Objectives: The aim of the study is to assess macular ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) thickness in deprivational amblyopic eyes (AE), fellow non-amblyopic eyes (FE) and normal eyes (NE) using spectral. domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Materials and Methods: Twenty two children (64% boys) who underwent surgical removal of unilateral congenital or developmental cataracts and exhibited visual impairment despite postoperative visual rehabilitation were included in the study. Cataract surgery was performed in patients aged 55.82 ± 35.85 months (range 6 to 114 months). The mean age of the study group was 9.73 ± 2.85 years (range 5 to 15 years). The comparison group consisted of 22 healthy age- and gender-matched children. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after surgery was: 0.75 ± 0.27 (range 0.3 to 1.3) in AE, 0.1 ± 0.13 (range 0 to 0.5) in FE and 0.04 ± 0.07 (range 0 to 0.2) in NE. OCT scans were performed in all patients and subsequently corrected for axial length related magnification errors. Results: The average thickness of mGCIPL was 70.6 ± 11.28 μm in AE; 77.50 ± 6.72 μm in FE and 81.73 ± 5.18 μm in NE. We found that mGCIPL was statistically significantly thinner in deprivation AE compared to FE (p = 0.038) and NE (p = 0.0005). The minimum thickness of mGCIPL was respectively: 62.68 ± 13.2 μm, 70.3 ± 7.61 μm, and 74.5 ± 5.47, and also differed between AE and FE (p = 0.023) and AE and NE (p = 0.0004). Also, measurements in the inferior, inferotemporal, and superotemporal sectors showed thinning of mGCIPL in AE compared to NE. Conclusions: This analysis may suggest that deprivational amblyopia caused by unilateral congenital or developmental cataract in children may be associated with mGCIPL thinning.

Analysis of age at detection and outcomes of dense unilateral congenital cataract surgery for children on the paediatric cataract register.

Analysis of age at time of detection and surgery of dense unilateral cataract and investigation of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in a nationwide register-based cohort study, based on the routine of maternity ward eye screening. Data were derived from the Paediatric Cataract Register (PECARE). All children (n= 54) diagnosed with dense congenital unilateral cataract between January 2007 and September 2014 who had surgery before 1 year of age, and for whom 5-year follow-up records were available, were included. The majority, 35/54 (65%), were detected and operated on before age 6 weeks and 30/35 (86%) were referred from maternity wards. Visual acuity (VA) ≥ 0.5 (decimal, 0.3 logMAR) was found in 7/53 (13%) of the cohort at age 5 years; further, 19 children achieved VA ≥ 0.1 (decimal, 1.0 logMAR) (36%) and 19 children VA < 0.05 (decimal, 1.30 logMAR) (36%). Ten-year follow-up records were available for 17/53 (32%) children; 1/17 (6%) achieved VA ≥ 0.5 (decimal, 0.3 logMAR), 4/17 (24%) VA ≥ 0.3-<0.5 (decimal, 0.52-0.30 logMAR), 3/17 (18%) VA ≥ 0.05-0.1 (decimal, 1.30-1.0 logMAR) and 10/17 (59%) VA < 0.05 (decimal, 1.30 logMAR). A total of 90% of the children were detected with cataract within 100 days of birth and 80% were operated on within this period. This study showed better visual acuity in those treated for dense unilateral cataracts than previously reported in an earlier Swedish cohort study.

Anterior segment optical coherence tomography findings in the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study (IATS): a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial

To correlate the diagnosis of glaucoma among children in the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study (IATS) by age 10 years with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) findings. A multicenter randomized controlled trial of 114 infants with unilateral congenital cataract who were 1-6 months of age at surgery. Data on long-term glaucoma-related status and outcomes were collected when children were 10.5 years old. Participants were randomized at cataract surgery to either primary intraocular lens (IOL) or no IOL implantation (contact lens [CL]). AS-OCT findings in eyes with glaucoma were compared to eyes which did not have glaucoma and to the fellow eyes, between fellow and treated eyes, and between the IOL and CL groups. There were no significant differences in the mean nasal and temporal anterior chamber angle (ACA) or mean nasal and temporal angle opening distance (AOD) for nonglaucomatous, glaucomatous, and fellow eyes (P = 0.31, 0.16, 0.43, 0.08 resp.). There were also no significant differences in mean nasal and temporal ACA and AOD between fellow and treated eyes (P = 0.44, 0.67, 0.57, 0.38 resp.), or between IOL and CL groups (P=0.36, 0.35, 0.49, 0.44, resp.). AS-OCT confirmed that eyes with glaucoma in IATS had predominantly open angles with similar ACA and AOD to eyes without glaucoma and to fellow eyes. Furthermore, congenital cataract surgery with or without an IOL did not result in a significant difference in ACA or AOD compared to fellow eyes in IATS.

Prevalence of Congenital Cataract and Lens Extraction in Lahore Population

Congenital cataracts account for one-third of infant blindness globally and are one of the leading cause of vision loss in children. A retrospective study was performed between October 2020 and April 2021 on congenital cataract patients of Lahore visited ophthalmologic consultation at the Al Ehsaan eye hospital, General Hospital and Mayo hospital. The purpose of the study was to find the prevalence of congenital cataract in children. About 100 cases of congenital cataract including both male and female children were identified from age group of 1-13years. Congenital cataract was diagnosed using Snellen’s visual acuity test, ophthalmoscope and slit lamp test. Male children showed greater prevalence of congenital cataract as compared to female children. The prevalence of congenital cataract in male children was 55% (n=55) while among female children, it was 45% (n=45). Both conditions of unilateral and bilateral congenital cataract were observed with incidence of 46% (n=46) and 54% (n=54) in male and female children respectively. Lens extraction was also done in 94% (n=94) and after surgery 55% (n=52) patients showed positive response and 45% (n=42) patient had negative response for light perception. Moreover, most patients of congenital cataracts were of less than 1 year of age group. It was concluded congenital cataract may lead to childhood blindness if not treated on time.

Extended Overview of Ocular Phenotype with Recent Advances in Hypohidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia.

The term ectodermal dysplasias (EDs) describes a heterogeneous group of inherited developmental disorders that affect several tissues of ectodermal origin. The most common form of EDs is hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED), which is characterized by hypodontia, hypotrichosis, and partial or total eccrine sweat gland deficiency. HED is estimated to affect at least 1 in 17,000 people worldwide. Patients with HED have characteristic facies with periorbital hyperpigmentation, depressed nasal bridge, malar hypoplasia, and absent or sparse eyebrows and eyelashes. The common ocular features of HED include madarosis, trichiasis, and ocular chronic surface disease due to dry eye syndrome, which manifests clinically with discomfort, photophobia, and redness. Dry eye is common in HED and results from a combination of ocular surface defects: mucus abnormalities (abnormal conjunctival mucinous glands), aqueous tear deficiency (abnormalities in the lacrimal gland) and lipid deficiency (due to the partial or total absence of the meibomian glands; modified sebaceous glands with the tarsal plate). Sight-threatening complications result from ocular surface disease, including corneal ulceration and perforation with subsequent corneal scarring and neovascularization. Rare ocular features have been reported and include bilateral or unilateral congenital cataracts, bilateral glaucoma, chorioretinal atrophy and atresia of the nasolacrimal duct. Recognition of the ocular manifestations of HED is required to perform clinical surveillance, instigate supportive and preventative treatment, and manage ocular complications.

Reading ability in children with a unilateral congenital cataract

Amblyopia has been associated with reading skills, but this association has not been observed with deprivation amblyopia. We analyzed data from the Infant Aphakia treatment Study (IATS) to see if unilateral congenital cataract, or visual acuity (VA) in the treated eye, was associated with reading.

Stereopsis in the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study: comparison between ages 4½ and 10½

Infants born with a unilateral congenital cataract (UCC) are frequently unable to perceive depth based on binocular cues because of the patching regimen employed to ensure optimal vision in the treated eye, as well as the disparity in acuity between their eyes. At the 4½ year visual assessment approximately 25% of the IATS patients demonstrated some level of binocular functioning. We determined that retesting stereopsis at age 10½ years would provide valuable information.

Morphological characteristics of the subfoveal choroid and their association with visual acuity in postoperative patients with unilateral congenital cataracts.

BackgroundWe aimed to evaluate the morphological characteristics of the subfoveal choroid and explore the possible association of these characteristics with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in postoperative patients with unilateral congenital cataracts (CCs).MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study. Subfoveal choroidal structures were measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography with enhanced depth imaging (EDI-OCT). Several choroidal parameters, including subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), total choroidal area (TCA), luminal area (LA), stromal area (SA) and choroidal vascularity index (CVI), were compared between pseudophakic and contralateral healthy eyes. Then, the choroidal parameters were compared between pseudophakic eyes with a poor BCVA (>0.3 logMAR) and those with a good BCVA (≤0.3 logMAR). The performance of the choroidal parameters in detecting a poor BCVA in pseudophakic eyes was evaluated by using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). A logistic regression model was used to assess the association between choroidal parameters and BCVA in postoperative patients with unilateral CCs.ResultsA total of 55 postoperative patients with unilateral CCs were included. The age was 6.67±2.64 years. Thinner SFCT and smaller TCA, LA, SA and CVI were observed in pseudophakic eyes than in contralateral healthy eyes. In addition, in pseudophakic eyes, those with a poor BCVA had a thinner SFCT and a smaller TCA, LA and SA than those with a good BCVA. TCA [AUC, 0.75; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.62, 0.88], LA (AUC, 0.74; 0.61, 0.87) and SA (AUC, 0.74; 0.60, 0.87) showed acceptable discriminatory abilities on BCVA. Pseudophakic eyes with TCA ≤0.594 mm² [odds ratio (OR), 8.90; 95% CI: 1.99, 39.94; P=0.004], LA ≤0.402 mm² (OR 8.90; 95% CI: 1.99, 39.94; P=0.004) or SA ≤0.218 mm (OR, 6.53; 95% CI: 1.69, 25.27; P=0.007) were more likely to have a poor visual acuity.ConclusionsThe pseudophakic eyes in patients with unilateral CCs had thinner SFCT and smaller TCA, LA, SA and CVI than the contralateral healthy eyes. In pseudophakic eyes, smaller TCA, LA and SA values were associated with a poor visual acuity.

Posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis with anterior vitrectomy vs optic capture buttonholing without anterior vitrectomy in pediatric cataract surgery.

To investigate long-term complications after pediatric cataract surgery with implantation of a heparin-coated polymethyl methacrylate intraocular lens (PMMA IOL) and posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (PCCC) with anterior vitrectomy vs PCCC without anterior vitrectomy with optic capture buttonholing. Department of Ophthalmology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany. Prospective randomized clinical trial. Eyes with unilateral or bilateral congenital cataract without further pathologies or former surgeries were randomly assigned in 2 groups: cataract removal, IOL implantation, and PCCC with anterior vitrectomy (group A) or posterior optic buttonholing without anterior vitrectomy (group B). The main outcome measures were posterior capsule opacification (PCO), complication rates, and refractive development. 58 eyes of 41 pediatric cataract surgery patients were included. The mean age at the time of operation was 66.05 months (±29.39). In group A (n = 26), 2 eyes required treatment for PCO, whereas the optic axis remained clear in all eyes in group B (n = 30), which was statistically insignificant. In addition, group B had a slightly lower rate of complications. The mean spherical equivalent after a mean postoperative follow-up of 6.5 years was -0.11 ± 2.51 diopters (D) (-5.0 to +4.0 D) in group A and -0.08 ± 2.14 D (-5.0 to +4.0 D) in group B, which was also statistically insignificant. Optic capture with a heparin-coated PMMA IOL proved to be a safe technique in the prevention of secondary cataract formation without a higher rate of complications and the necessity of vitrectomy.

Primary intraocular lens implantation in infants with unilateral congenital cataract operated before 12 weeks of age

The aim of this study was to report visual outcome and safety after cataract surgery with primary intraocular lens implantation before 12 weeks of age. Infants with visually significant unilateral congenital cataract having primary IOL implantation in the capsular bag before 12 weeks of age in 2007-2016 were enrolled for a prospective study examination in 2017. The medical records were also reviewed. In total, 23 patients with a median age at cataract surgery of 32 days (range, 12-75 days) were included. Seventeen (74%) eyes had persistent foetal vasculature (PFV). After a median follow-up of 6.3 years (range, 1.4-10.9 years), the corrected distance visual acuity was 0.8 logMAR (range, 3.0-0.1 logMAR). All, except one eye, required surgery for visual axis opacification (VAO), with a median of two (range 0-5) additional surgical procedures. Four (17%) eyes developed secondary glaucoma. Cataract surgery with primary IOL implantation before 12 weeks of age resulted in a high number of VAO operations, and the visual outcome varied considerably, showing the range in outcome for this challenging patient group. Co-existent PFV in these young patients was common. The incidence of secondary glaucoma was similar to other studies, despite the young age at surgery, high percentage of PFV and number of surgical procedures for VAO.

Experiences of Treatment With Contact Lenses in Aphakic Children With Unilateral Congenital Cataract: A Retrospective Study.

Congenital cataract is a condition compromising the eye's crystalline lens in infants and is usually diagnosed at birth. It can lead to irreversible vision loss if not promptly detected and treated, especially in unilateral cases. Nowadays, children with congenital cataracts can undergo surgical removal of their opacified crystalline lenses, and visual rehabilitation is mandatory to prevent deep amblyopia. Contact lenses, predominantly of rigid gas-permeable (GP) type, are gaining more popularity for this matter. In this retrospective cohort study, unilateral aphakic children younger than 6 years referred to the Contact Lens Clinic at Farabi Eye Hospital from November 2011 to September 2019 were included. Seventy-six unilateral aphakic children with congenital cataracts (57.9% boys and 42.1% girls) rehabilitated with GP were studied. The mean age of diagnosis and referral to the contact lens clinic were 20.0±19.8 and 32.0±24.4 weeks, respectively, while the mean follow-up time was 12.44±26.28 months. The mean visual acuity for children capable of cooperating at the last follow-up was 0.98±0.62 log MAR. Among the participants, eight children (9.7%) were diagnosed as glaucoma suspects. The mean initial base curve and power of GP lenses were 7.86±0.39 mm and 23.29±5.52 diopters, respectively. Only 21 parents (27.6%) reported nonadherence to the scheduled part-time patch program. The results of this study showed GP-based optical treatment after early diagnosis, surgical removal of congenital cataracts, and a long-term close follow-up to be well tolerated by children and their parents, with acceptable parents' compliance and can thus be introduced as a safe and effective method to achieve desirable visual outcomes.