Intravitreal chemotherapy-induced cataract in retinoblastoma: challenges and outcome

Abstract

A toddler with bilateral retinoblastoma (Rb) received intravenous chemotherapy for advanced tumours in both eyes. The right eye required enucleation due to a poor response, but the left eye was salvaged by additional treatment with intravitreal chemotherapy for tumour vitreous seeds. Though the vitreous seeds regressed, a gradually progressive cataract developed likely due to drug toxicity. On ensuring continued regression of tumour within the eye, cataract extraction was performed. Surgery was uneventful and the child recovered good functional vision in the left eye. Salvaging the eyeball followed by vision restoration through cataract surgery in the only remaining eye of the child necessitated a multidisciplinary approach involving the ocular oncologist, the paediatric medical oncologist and the paediatric ophthalmologist. Ensuring tumour quiescence within the eye clinically before cataract surgery was the most crucial element of management. Additionally, close monitoring of the progress of the cataract to decide when to intervene was also necessary to keep the risk of amblyopia at bay. The patient recovered good functional vision in the left eye after the surgery and remained free of any tumour recurrence or systemic metastasis at 10 months of follow-up.