Visual Outcome of Traumatic Cataract in Pediatric Age Group

Abstract

Purpose. To review results of traumatic cataracts in children. Methods. This is a retrospective cohort study done at a tertiary eye care center at the junction of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan states in central western India. We enrolled children with specific inclusion criteria, examined their eyes to review the comorbidities due to trauma, performed surgery for traumatic cataracts, and implanted a lens, treating amblyopia if applicable. The patients were re-examined 6 weeks postoperatively. We divided the traumatic cataract cases into open-globe (group 1) and closed-globe (group 2) groups according to the ocular trauma based on the Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology System and compared the determinants of visual acuity. Results. Our cohort of 354 eyes with traumatic cataracts in children included 287 eyes in group 1 and 67 in group 2. Six weeks postoperatively, the visual acuity in the operated eye was >20/200 in 181 (63%) and ≥20/40 in 109 (38%) eyes in the open-globe group and >20/200 in 36 (53%) and ≥20/40 in 16 (22.4%) eyes in the closed-globe group (p = 0.143), and the difference between the groups was not significant in children. Overall, 125 (35.3%) eyes gained a visual acuity at 6 weeks of ≥20/40 and >20/200 in 214 (61.3%) cases. Conclusions. Satisfactory visual outcome can be achieved in children with traumatic cataracts, with no significant difference found among open- and closed-globe injuries in the pediatric age group.