Visual outcomes of patients presenting with bilateral infantile cataracts and nystagmus.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the outcomes of cataract surgery in pediatric patients presenting with bilateral infantile cataracts and nystagmus.

DESIGN

Retrospective case study.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirteen pediatric patients who presented between September 2002 and February 2014 at a single tertiary care institution.

METHODS

Patients were included if they presented with bilateral visually significant cataracts and preoperative manifest nystagmus and had no other systemic or ocular condition that could explain the presence of the nystagmus. Data collected included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), etiology of cataracts, associated systemic/ocular conditions, status of strabismus, surgical complications, and presence of nystagmus.

RESULTS

Mean age at diagnosis of the cataracts was 8.1 ± 10.6 months. Mean age at surgery was 8.4 ± 10.5 months. Average length of follow-up was 54.3 ± 32.6 months. Twelve patients were left aphakic bilaterally; 1 patient received primary intraocular lenses bilaterally. Ten patients were able to perform visual acuity at the most recent visit, with 5 out of 10 having BCVA ≥20/40 in the better-seeing eye. Two patients had no visible nystagmus and 3 patients had latent nystagmus only at the most recent visit.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of preoperative nystagmus does not preclude good visual outcomes in pediatric patients with cataracts.