Visual Outcomes of Congenital Cataract Surgery in a Tertiary Public Hospital in Bangladesh.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to look at the visual outcomes of bilateral congenital cataract surgery.

DESIGN

A prospective study was conducted.

METHODS

A total of 102 eyes of 51 children aged between 2 and 12 months undergoing bilateral congenital cataract surgery from January 2008 to December 2008 with a 3-year follow-up were included in this study. The study was performed at a tertiary public hospital. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 17. Chi-square (χ²) tests were performed to identify the association between visual outcome and age at surgery. P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Among the 102 eyes, 32 (31.4%) eyes were operated on when the subjects were aged between 2 and 3 months, and 70 (68.6%) eyes were operated on at the age of 3 to 12 months. The subjects were followed up for 3 years after surgery. Postoperative best-corrected visual acuity was measured. Visual outcomes were significantly poor in children aged 3 months or older (P < 0.001) as compared with children aged between 2 and 3 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Early detection and treatment with long-term postoperative rehabilitation is vital to improve visual outcomes of children with congenital cataract.