Abstract
Purpose: The method of correcting aphakia after unilateral cataract extraction during infancy is controversial. Some authorities advocate correction with an intraocular lens (IOL) whereas others advocate correction with a contact lens (CL). We compared grating visual acuity, alignment, and reoperative outcomes in age-matched children treated with these 2 modalities at 5 clinical centers. Methods: Twenty-five infants born in 1997 or 1998 with a dense unilateral congenital cataract who had cataract surgery coupled with (IOL group, n = 12) or without (CL group, n = 13) primary IOL implantation were enrolled in this study. All patients were prescribed half-time occlusion therapy. In July 1999, their grating visual acuities, ocular alignments, and reoperation rates were assessed. Results: The mean grating visual acuity (LogMAR) for the affected eye was 0.70±0.32 for the IOL group and 0.87±0.31 for the CL group (P =.19). The mean interocular difference in grating visual acuity was 0.26±0.30 for the IOL group and 0.50±0.28 for the CL group (P = .048). The incidence of strabismus (>10 PD) was 75% in the IOL group compared with 92% in the CL group (P= .24). The incidence of reoperations was 83% in the IOL group compared with 23% in the CL group (P= .003). Conclusions: Our preliminary data suggest that correcting aphakia after unilateral congenital cataract surgery with primary IOL implantation results in an improved visual outcome but a higher rate of complications requiring reoperation. A randomized clinical trial, the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study, is planned to further study the optimal treatment for aphakia following unilateral cataract extraction during infancy.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 70-75 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of AAPOS |
Volume | 5 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 2001 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Ophthalmology