Stereopsis after primary in-the-bag posterior chamber implantation in children

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate visual acuity and binocu lar function after primary posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implant ation in children. Patients and Methods: A retrospective chart review of 39 eyes of 31 children was performed. Fifteen eyes with traumatic, 17 with de velopmental, and 7 with congenital cataracts without any other ophthalmolog ic problems were examined before and after cataract surgery (irrigation/asp iration procedure with implantation of a posterior chamber IOL). Twelve eye s also received a posterior capsulorrhexis and anterior vitrectomy. The mea n age at surgery was 6.9 +/- 3 years (range, 3-12 years). Results: Twenty ( 51%) of 39 eyes achieved a best-corrected postoperative visual acuity of 20 /40 or better (range, 20/200-20/20). The mean postoperative visual acuity w as 20/40 in the traumatic and developmental cataract groups and 20/100 in t he congenital cataract group. There was a positive correlation between cata ract morphology and visual acuity (P < .05). Bilateral cataracts had a bett er postoperative visual acuity than unilateral cataracts (P < .005). Ninete en (70%) of 27 eyes in which no primary posterior capsulorrhexis had been p erformed had posterior capsule opacification. Stereopsis was found in 10 of the 31 patients: 43% of the traumatic cataract group, 30% of the developme ntal cataract group, and 14% of the congenital cataract group. Conclusions: After capsular bag-fixated IOL, visual acuity and binocular function in ch ildren older than 3 years were favorable and the complication rate, excludi ng posterior capsule opacification, was law.