Primary posterior capsulorhexis with and without anterior vitrectomy in congenital cataracts

Abstract

S of 16 children whose mean age was 2.3 years (range 3 months to 5 years). Primary posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (PCCC) and posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation were performed in all eyes. No vitrectomy was done in 8 eyes (Group 1); an anterior vitrectomy was performed in 10 eyes (Group 2). Optic capture through the posterior capsule was achieved in 3 eyes in Group 1 and in 5 eyes in Group 2. Average follow-up was 13.3 months. Results: Five eyes (62.5%) in Group 1 needed secondary pars plana vitrectomy because the visual axis was obscured; no eye in Group 2 needed a secondary procedure. Four Group 1 eyes developed significant complications (updrawn pupil, decentration, occlusio pupillae, transient glaucoma). While no Group 2 eye developed a serious complication, some degree of pigment dispersion was noted in all the eyes. Conclusion: The results suggest that anterior vitrectomy is desirable along with primary PCCC in children younger than 5 years with congenital cataracts. aReprint requests to Abhay Vasavada, MS, FRCS, Iladevi Cataract & IOL Research Centre, Raghudeep Eye Clinic, Opp. Gurukul, Gurukul Road, Memnagar, Ahmedabad-380 052, India. Presented in part at the Symposium on Cataract, IOL and Refractive Surgery, Seattle, Washington, USA, June 1996 Professor A.N. Setalwad provided the statistical analysis. © Williams & Wilkins 1997. All Rights Reserved....