Outcome of Cataract Surgery in Patients Treated for Retinopathy of Prematurity

Background/Aims: Pediatric patients with treated retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) may develop visually significant cataracts. We report the outcome of cataract surgery in patients who had ROP treatment. Method: Retrospective chart review of 19 eyes from 16 patients who had ROP treatment and subsequent cataract surgery between August, 2002 and March, 2015. Results: Eighteen of 19 eyes received laser treatment for ROP;1 eye received intravitreal bevacizumab. 5 eyes received lens-sparing pars plana vitrectomy (LSPPV) in addition to laser. Average follow up was 10.1 ± 5.5 years. Average visual acuity improved from 20/324 prior to and 20/110 after cataract surgery (p = 0.06). 13/19 (68%) of the eyes received laser only and developed cataracts an average of 6.2 ± 5.6 years after laser treatment. 5/19 (26%) eyes developed cataracts an average of 6.4 ± 4.2 years after LSPPV and laser. In one eye, a cataract developed after a bevacizumab injection 2.9 years after the injection. Visual axis opacification (VAO) developed in 2/5 (40%) eyes after Ce/PCIOL/PPC-Antvx, 8/10 eyes (80%) after CE/IOL, and in 0/4 eyes after CE/PPC-AntVx. Ocular comorbidities included strabismus, nystagmus, amblyopia, optic atrophy, corneal band keratopathy, and phthisis bulbi. Conclusion: Cataract surgery in patients who have a history of ROP can be complicated by anatomical changes from prematurity and prior vitreoretinal surgeries. Vision improvement is limited by other ocular comorbidities.

Management of Cataracts in Pediatric Patients with Developmental Delay at a Tertiary Care Pediatric Hospital

Background: Childhood cataract causing visual impairment can compound developmental delay (DD) if left untreated. Current literature in children with DD is limited;thus, we evaluated cataract etiology, challenges, and treatment compliance in this group. Purpose: To report the presentation and challenges associated with cataract management in children with developmental delay (DD) at a tertiary care pediatric hospital. Methods: Retrospective review of 100 patients (173 eyes) presenting with cataracts and DD from February 2014 to December 2017. Results: 100 patients (173 eyes) were included. 27 patients had unilateral cataracts and 73 bilateral. The average age was 120.55 months (SD 63.77, range 5.87 - 243.16);the average follow-up period was 57.7 months (SD 139.14, range 1.03 - 1412.30). 61% of patients (55% eyes) underwent medical management for cataracts due to: cataract was not visually significant (66% eyes), parent deferred surgery (11% eyes), self-abusive behavior (14% eyes), and medical conditions that limited visual recovery (9% eyes). 32% of patients were unable to perform objective visual acuity by age 5. Patients with self-abusive behavior were more likely to present with or develop retinal detachment (RD) (35%) compared to those without self-abusive behavior (6%) (p = 0.0028). A statistically significant difference in the difficulty of examination (p < 0.0001) and poor compliance of glasses wear (p < 0.0001) was found in nonverbal patients. Surgical complications occurred in 39% of eyes. Those with intraocular lens placement after cataract extraction were more likely to develop visual axis opacification (27% eyes) than those who remained aphakic (9% eyes) (p = 0.0313). Conclusion: Cataract extraction in pediatric patients with DD can be associated with success, however, providers should prepare for limitations in managing these patients.

Outcome of Strabismus in Children with Cataracts

We characterized the outcome of strabismus in 54 pediatric patients with cataracts. Patients were less than 18 years of age at the time of undergoing cataract extraction with or without intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Of 54 patients, 24 (44%) were male;30 (56%) were female. 36 (67%) had congenital cataract;18 (33%) had acquired cataract. Average age at cataract surgery was 40.39 months (SD: 38.82;range: 2-156). All patients had strabismus at the time of diagnosis of the cataracts. One year after cataract surgery, 39 (72%) patients had resolution or improvement of strabismus without surgery at an average of 3.8 months (SD: 3.6;range 0 to 12 months);15 (28%) of patients required strabismus surgery. No association was found between resolution of strabismus, gender, the presence of congenital or acquired cataract, unilateral or bilateral cataract, duration of cataract, and the presence of IOL or aphakia. Strabismus was more likely to resolve without surgical intervention if the child was older at the time of diagnosis of cataract. The predicted value of resolution at 50 months of age is 70% and increases with age.