Case series of 12 children with progressive axial myopia following unilateral cataract extraction.

PURPOSE: We report the occurrence of unilateral progressive axial myopia ipsilaterally in a retrospective analysis of 12 children following uniocular cataract surgery.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of the case records of children who had developed progressive ipsilateral axial myopia following unilateral cataract surgery was done. Follow-up ranged from 4 years to 14 years.

RESULTS

Twelve children, 7 male and 5 female, were eligible for the study. Mean age at the time of cataract surgery was 6.7 +/- 2.5 years (range, 4-11 years) and follow-up period was 7.8 +/- 3.1 years (range, 4-14 years). Ten children (83.3%) had traumatic cataracts of which 8 had undergone repair of penetrating eye injuries and 2 had suffered blunt trauma. Two patients (16.7%)had been operated for unilateral developmental cataracts. Three children had aphakia and nine had pseudophakia. Degree of myopic shift ranged from -4.75 D to -15 D (mean, -7.35 +/- 3.51 D). Axial length difference between the 2 eyes ranged from 1 mm to 3.5 mm (mean, 2.2 +/- 0.9 mm). Mean increase of axial length from preoperative recording to final follow-up was 2.53 +/- 0.90 mm (range, 1.6-4 mm). Three children had to undergo IOL explantation and 1 had posterior chamber intraocular lens exchange due to high unilateral myopia. The rest were visually rehabilitated with either spectacles or contact lenses.

CONCLUSION

Following cataract surgery pediatric eyes may suffer from progressive axial myopia. Trauma or multiple ocular surgeries may be predisposing factors.