Jr. Ainsworth et al., PEDIATRIC CATARACT MANAGEMENT WITH VARIATIONS IN SURGICAL TECHNIQUE AND APHAKIC OPTICAL CORRECTION, Ophthalmology, 104(7), 1997, pp. 1096-1101
Purpose: The purpose of the study was to compare the results of three
techniques of cataract surgery in children, Two methods included intra
ocular lens (IOL) implantation and one used contact lens correction of
aphakia. Design: Nonrandomized clinical trial. Participants: Seventy-
seven eyes of 50 children between the ages of 2 1/2 and 16 years who h
ad cataract surgery for the treatment of uncomplicated cataract.Interv
ention: Thirty-one eyes underwent a ''conventional'' style of implanta
tion, and a ''phaco-style'' of surgery was used in 24 eyes. A contact
lens was used as the primary means of aphakic correction in 22 eyes. M
ain Outcome Measures: The visual results and complications of each typ
e of surgery were compared. Results: Corrected visual acuities did not
differ significantly between the three groups 6 months after surgery,
The incidence and type of complications were significantly different,
Better lens centration, less long-term iris changes, or wound-related
problems were observed with ''phaco-style'' modification of the techn
ique of IOL insertion, Conclusions: Pediatric IOL insertion eliminated
the need for contact lens wear and did not lead to a significantly di
fferent corrected visual acuity 6 months after surgery compared with l
ensectomy with contact lens correction, Adoption of some of the techni
ques of modern small-incision cataract surgery for pediatric IOL proce
dures produces a significant reduction in postoperative anterior segme
nt complications compared with a standard limbal approach. Such modifi
cations allow pediatric IOL insertion to be a safe alternative for the
correction of pediatric aphakia.