Purpose: To evaluate the long-term outcome after cataract surgery with primary intraocular lens implantation in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis.
Methods: The medical records of all 24 children (34 eyes) with chronic juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis who underwent cataract surgery between 1990 and 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. Primary intraocular lens implantation was performed in all patients.
Results: Median age at diagnosis of uveitis in the first eye was 5.3 years (range: 2.7-9.4 years) and median age at the time of cataract surgery in the first eye was 9.7 years (range: 4.1-16.9 years). Postoperative follow-up time ranged from 1 to 23.1 years, with a median of 10.9 years. Best corrected visual acuity at the last follow-up was good (⩾20/40) in 65% of the eyes. Postoperatively, glaucoma developed in 8 eyes (24%), posterior capsular opacification and secondary membrane formation requiring surgery in 15 eyes (44%), macular oedema in 5 eyes (15%) and phthisis in 2 eyes (6%).
Conclusion: This study shows a favourable visual outcome in most of the cases. Primary intraocular lens implantation may be considered in juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis complicated by cataract in patients with well-controlled inflammation.
Keywords: Cataract; intraocular lens; juvenile idiopathic arthritis; uveitis.