Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the role of laterality of the pediatric cataract in the development of corneal power (Km) and axial length (AL) of eyes of term born children aged < 3.5 years with uncomplicated congenital cataract.
Methods: :
Retrospective review of patients undergoing cataract extraction from January 1994 to January 2007. Exclusion criteria were preterm birth, microphthalmia, microcornea, megalocornea, glaucoma, traumatic or complicated cataract, retinal disease. Keratometric readings were undertaken before surgery with an autokeratometer (Nidek KM500, Japan).
Results: :
All unilateral cataractous eyes (n. 69), and one randomly selected eye from the bilateral cases (n. 111) were included in the analysis, for a total of 256 eyes. Mean age was 15.5±11.8 months, mean AL 20.03±2.25 mm, mean Km 45.07±3.00D. Km values were significantly greater, and AL readings shorter in younger children (p<0.001). No differences according to gender were found. As a group, eyes from unilateral cataract had significantly longer AL than those from bilateral cases (p=0.029).
Conclusions: :
In the first 42 months of age, Km and AL values are significantly different according to the laterality of cataract. Visual axis obstruction during the first months of life and the presence of a cataractous lens affect the eye growth. These findings provide data for a better understanding of the development of the eye with congenital/developmental cataract and may help to design pediatric-specif formulas for IOL power calculation in the future.
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: biostatistics/epidemiology methodology • cataract • infant vision