Complications of pediatric lensectomy in 193 eyes.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVE

To better define late complications and long-term visual outcomes associated with lensectomy surgery for pediatric cataracts.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Retrospective review of all patients seen by a pediatric ophthalmologist from 1970 to 2002. Patients were seen at a university-based clinical practice setting. This study defines the incidence of late post-lensectomy complications. Final long-term visual acuities were correlated with specific surgical complications and ocular and systemic anomalies.

RESULTS

There were 193 eyes of 138 patients who had lensectomy for pediatric cataracts. The average follow-up time was 10.8 +/- 6.7 years (range, 3 months to 31.3 years). The most common postoperative complication was aphakic glaucoma (20.2%) at an average of 3.4 +/- 3.7 years after lensectomy surgery. At last follow-up, the median visual acuity was 20/40 in eyes without complications and 20/80 in eyes with complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Aphakic glaucoma was the most common postoperative complication (20.2%). Most eyes with associated ocular and systemic anomalies and postoperative complications have poorer visual outcomes.