Visual outcomes in pediatric traumatic cataract

Abstract

To study epidemiology, biometry and visual outcomes (with or without posterior capsulorhexis) in cases of pediatric traumatic cataract. This was a prospective observational study conducted on 30 children of traumatic cataract belonging to an age group of less than 16 years. All patients were subjected to detailed history and ocular examination. Patients underwent cataract surgery with or without intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Posterior capsulorhexis with posterior optic capture was done in all patients presenting with primary posterior capsular opacity. All patients were followed up till 6 months and surgical outcomes in terms of Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA), and visual axis opacification (VAO) were observed. Firecracker injury was found to be the most common causal agent, followed by arrow and ball injuries. Males were more commonly injured than females (70%:30%). Open-globe injury was more frequent than closed globe injury (CGI) (53.3%:46.7%). Anterior capsular rupture was the most frequent preoperative complication. Mean axial length was 22.53 which was not significantly different from the fellow eye. 3 patients were left aphakic, 10 patients underwent single piece IOL implantation and 16 patients underwent multipiece IOL implantation. Anterior chamber IOL (ACIOL) was implanted in one case. Intraoperatively 6 patients were found to have posterior capsular plaque and were implanted with multipiece IOL with posterior optic capture. Visual acuity significantly improved in 21 out of 30 eyes from baseline after cataract surgery (p<0.001). 9 patients (30%) had posterior capsular opacification (PCO) on follow up. Posterior capsular opacity in pediatric traumatic cataracts can be effectively managed with posterior capsulorhexis and posterior optic capture.