Purpose: To determine and to analyze the outcome of pediatric cataract surgery.
Methods: A retrospective chart review of individuals aged up to 10 years who underwent cataract surgery between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2014, at the UniversityHospital Zurich, Switzerland.
Results: 63 children (94 affected eyes) with bilateral (68/94) or unilateral (26/94) cataract were identified. Surgery was performed at a median age of 1.5 months (IQR: 1.3-2.6 months) for the aphakic group (45/94) and of 50.7 months (IQR: 38.0-78.4 months) for the IOL group (49/94). At the last follow-up visit (median 31.1 months, IQR: 18.4-50.2 months), visual acuity was better in bilateral than in unilateral cataract cases. Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) was diagnosed in 30.9% of eyes without a significant difference in the IOL and aphakic groups (p = 0.12). Aphakic glaucoma was diagnosed in 12/45 eyes at a median of 6.8 months (IQR 2.1-13.3 months) after surgery. Microcornea (5/12) and anterior segment anomalies (8/12) were associated with glaucoma development (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Laterality and timing of surgery influence the outcome of pediatric cataract surgery. PCO was the most frequent postoperative complication. Aphakic glaucoma is often associated with ocular developmental abnormalities and a poor visual outcome.