A study of visual outcome of cataract surgery in children

Purpose: Childhood cataract is a debiliting condition with social burden. If it is not treated early and properly it may lead to permanent blindness due to amblyopia. Purpose of this study is to discuss results of early management of cataracts with etiologies like congenital, trauma in children. Methods: Ten eyes in eight children with cataract were studied in detail at ophthalmology OPD. All children were operated by same surgeon under general anesthesia. Phacoemulsification with Intraocular lens implantation was done. Main tunnel was sutured by 10-0 viacryl. A weekly follow-up was maintained for a month and refraction was given at the end of month. Result: Eight patients were in the age group of three years to twelve years with mean age of nine years. Seven were male while one was female. Five patients had blunt trauma, one had sealed penetrating injury by thorn and two had bilateral congenital cataract. Preoperative vision varied from PL+ PR+ to 6/24. Seven patients showed good post-operative visual recovery in the range 6/18 to 6/9. One patient of long standing congenital cataract did not improve after surgery due to severe amblyopia. Out of seven patients, one patient had developed choroidal detachment on day one, however he recovered gradually by wait and watch method, while another patient had developed posterior capsule opacification after three month, so he was treated by Nd YAG capsulotomy and subsequently regained 6/9 vision. Conclusion: Children with cataract can have normal vision post cataract surgery if operated early with special care. If cataract is not operated early, then it might lead to blindness due to amblyopia. Declaration of interest: No