Glaucoma following congenital cataract surgery: an 18-year longitudinal follow-up.

PURPOSE: To report the occurrence of postoperative glaucoma and to evaluate risk factors.

METHODS

Children born in four of the western counties of Sweden who were diagnosed with congenital cataracts formed a cohort (n=137). The following parameters were evaluated: age at cataract surgery; type of surgery; visual outcome; postoperative IOP; optic disc abnormalities; date of onset of the complication; number of reoperations, including treatment for secondary cataract; presence of systemic anomalies; microphthalmus; and eye-related anomalies.

RESULTS

A diagnosis of glaucoma was recorded for 12% of the eyes. The mean follow-up time was 9.6 years. There is a relationship between surgery before the age of 10 days and development of glaucoma. Microphthalmus is an important risk factor as well.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite modern surgical techniques the incidence of aphakic glaucoma is 10% or higher. No time-dependent increase in the incidence of late-onset glaucoma between the 1980s and the 1990s could be proven.