An update on the evidence for and against the use of intraocular lenses in infants and young children.

INTRODUCTION

One highly discussed topic in managing pediatric cataracts is determining when is it appropriate to implant an intraocular lens (IOL) in infants and young children who require cataract surgery. IOLs are an artificial replacement to the natural lens that may offer great visual benefit, but there are many factors to consider in the infant and young child population.

AREAS COVERED: This review covers the evidence on primary IOL implantation in infants and young children with a special focus on visual benefit and complications to consider in the timing of IOL implantation. PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library were searched for relevant articles, published between January 2016 and October 2024.

EXPERT OPINION: Primary IOL implantation is preferred in children older than 6 months due to higher complication rates in younger infants. Future studies are needed to elucidate a predictable model for ocular growth in cataractous eyes and evaluate techniques and IOLs that may reduce visual axis opacification occurrence.