Congenital cataract surgery without intraocular lens implantation in persistent fetal vasculature syndrome: Long-term clinical and functional results

Purpose To evaluate long-term clinical and functional outcomes after congenital cataract surgery in persistent fetal vasculature (PFV). Setting Department of Ophthalmology, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany. Design Retrospective comparative case series. Methods The records of eyes with congenital cataract associated or not associated with PFV that had cataract surgery without intraocular lens (IOL) implantation within the first 18 months of life were reviewed. Long-term visual outcomes and clinical parameters, including aphakic glaucoma, posterior capsule opacification (PCO), vitreous and anterior segment hemorrhage, retinal detachment (RD), and fibrin reaction, were evaluated. Results Congenital cataract was associated with PFV in 19 eyes (19 children) and not associated in 69 eyes (40 children). Sixteen patients had isolated anterior PFV; 3 eyes were classified as combined anterior and posterior PFV. The mean follow-up was 53.21 months. Postoperative visual acuity improvement was recorded in 68.4% of PFV-associated cataract eyes with a corrected visual acuity up to 20/100. Long-term visual outcomes in PFV-associated cataract eyes were significantly worse than in the 11 unilateral cataract eyes without additional PFV ( P  = .0067). The presence of PFV was strongly associated with a long-term increased risk for postoperative hemorrhage ( P  = .0001) and RD ( P  = .009) after primary cataract surgery and secondary IOL implantation. The prevalence of aphakic glaucoma, PCO, and fibrinous reaction was similar between PFV cataract eyes and controls. Conclusions In most cases of PFV-associated congenital cataract, postoperative visual acuity improvement is possible. However, congenital cataract eyes associated with PFV have a long-term increased risk for postoperative hemorrhage and RD. Financial Disclosure None of the authors has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.