Retrospective evaluation of ocular axial length after unilateral cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation in children and adolescents

PURPOSE: To evaluate the postoperative ocular axial length in children, who had unilateral cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this retrospective study we studied 20 children (12 boys and 8 girls) in age from 7 to 20 years (mean 14 +/- 3.65 years), who had undergone surgery for unilateral cataract: 8 children had congenital cataract; 7 patients had traumatic cataract; in 5 cases there were secondary cataract: 3 children had cataract after uveitis, in 1 child cataract was due to steroid therapy because of nephrotic syndrome and 1 patient had neurodermatic cataract. In 16 cases PMMA lens was used, heparinized lens was implanted in 3 eyes and acrylic lens in 1 eye. The power of implants was from + 19 D to +24 D (mean 20.98 +/- 1.6 D). All measurements of axial length were obtained using ultrasound A scan. Examination was done from 14 months to 7.5 years after surgery (mean 3.5 +/- 1.55 years). The axial length in the operated eyes was compared with axial length of the fellow nonoperated eyes. RESULTS: Mean axial length in operated eyes was 22.58 +/- 1.56 mm. Mean axial length in fellow eyes was 22.96 +/- 1.42 mm. There were no significant differences between operated and nonoperated eyes (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation does not influence rate of axial growth in children and adolescents.