Prognosis of visual acuity and complications after cataract surgery with primary bag-fixated IOL implantation in children

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate results of visual acuity and binocularity and complications after cataract surgery with primary capsular bag-fixated IOL implantation in children. Materials and methods: Thirty-three children [mean age (± SEM) 6.9 ± 2.9 years, range 3–12 years] accounting for 43 eyes, were examined before and after surgery (15 traumatic, 19 developmental, and 9 congenital cataracts, of the latter two groups 9 unilateral and 19 bilateral cataracts). Results: All eyes had a best corrected postoperative visual acuity of 0.5 ± 0.05. The postoperative visual acuity of the traumatic cataracts was 0.6 ± 0.07, of the developmental cataracts 0.5 ± 0.07, and of the congenital cataracts 0.2 ± 0.05. Of the 43 eyes, 17 (40 %) showed a best corrected visual acuity of 0.5 or better. There was a positive correlation between morphology (lamellar versus subcapsular opacification) and visual acuity (0.7 ± 0.07 versus 0.5 ± 0.05; P < 0.05). Bilateral cataracts had a better postoperative visual acuity than unilateral cataracts (0.7 ± 0.07 versus 0.2 ± 0.05; P < 0.001). Stereopsis was found postoperatively in 62 % of the children. In one eye a capsular bag-fixated IOL implantation was not possible, and so the IOL was inserted in the sulcus. Four children presented with postoperative fibrin formation. Posterior capsule opacification occurred in 19 % of the eyes in which a primary posterior capsulotomy had been performed. Conclusions: The prognosis of visual acuity and the results of stereopsis in children older than 3 years following capsular bag-fixated IOL implantation are very good. Both the intraoperative and postoperative complication rates were low.