Longitudinal changes in axial length in pseudophakic children.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the axial length changes that occur in children 3 to 9 years of age who had cataract extraction with primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.

SETTING

Emory Eye Center, Emory University, and Egleston Children's Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

METHODS

A review of 17 eyes in 15 children (mean age 6.4 years; range 3 to 9 years) who had primary IOL implantation was undertaken. Patients were followed for an average of 3.1 years. The initial and final axial length measurements and refractive errors were compared.

RESULTS

The overall change in mean axial length in the 17 eyes was 0.64 mm. The overall mean myopic shift was -1.01 diopters (D) (range -3.00 +0.50 D). Eyes with traumatic cataracts experienced more axial elongation than eyes with developmental/congenital cataracts (0.97 mm versus -0.01 mm; P = .03). Ninety-four percent of patients obtained a final visual acuity of 20/40 or better.

CONCLUSION

Eyes with traumatic cataracts experienced more axial elongation than eyes with developmental/congenital cataracts after cataract extraction and IOL implantation.