S. Fenton et M. O'Keefe, Primary posterior capsulorhexis without anterior vitrectomy in pediatric cataract surgery: Longer term outcome, J CAT REF S, 25(6), 1999, pp. 763-767
Purpose: To assess the effectiveness of primary posterior capsulorhexis wit
hout anterior vitrectomy in preventing posterior capsule opacification (PCO
) in pediatric cataract surgery.
Setting: Children's Hospital, Dublin, Republic of ireland.
Methods: The study comprised 32 eyes of 22 pediatric patients who had catar
act extraction between 1994 and 1998. Extracapsular cataract extraction was
performed using radiofrequency diathermy capsulorhexis to the anterior and
posterior capsules without an anterior vitrectomy. Posterior chamber intra
ocular lens implantation was performed in 20 eyes. There were 23 congenital
, 6 developmental, and 3 traumatic cataracts.
Results: Patient age ranged from 1 month to 12 years. Mean follow-up was 19
months (range 6 to 50 months). Twenty-seven of 32 eyes (84.4%) had a clear
visual axis at last follow-up. Five eyes required a neodymium:YAG capsulot
omy, which was performed a mean of 5 months postoperatively (range 1 to 9 m
onths). The Incidence of PCO requiring capsulotomy was 15.6%.
Conclusion: Primary posterior capsulorhexis without anterior vitrectomy was
safe and effective, with a low reopacification rate. Long term follow-up o
f this patient cohort is I necessary. J Cataract Refract Surg 1999; 25:763-
767 (C) 1999 ASCRS and ESCRS.