The results of the treatment of cataract in the children and adolescents at the age under 14 years

Abstract

Objective. To analyze the results of the surgical treatment of cataract of different etiology in the children and adolescents at the age under 14 years based at the Cheboksary branch of C.N. Fedorov Eye Microsurgery Complex during the past 10 years. Material and methods. We undertook the retrospective comparative analysis of the results of the surgical intervention for the treatment of cataract in the children and adolescents at the age varying between 3 months and 14 years (390 eyes). The majority of the children presenting with post-traumatic cataract were at the age of 4-6 years. The long-term results of surgery were evaluated in 194 children (253 eyes or 65%) during the 6-36 month follow-up period. The presence of cataract was documented in 209 eyes of the patients with congenital cataract (including 92 ones with unilateral and 58 with bilateral cataract respectively). Post-traumatic cataract was documented in 44 eyes. Facoaspiration combined with the implantation of an intraocular lens and without it was performed in in 242 and 11 eyes respectively. The post-operative complications that developed in 79 children required the secondary surgical treatment. Results. The inflammatory reaction during the post-operative period was apparent in the children given the surgical treatment during the first year of life. The visual acuity in the patients with congenital cataract increased to 0.8-1.0 in 12.3% of the cases, to 0.5-0.7 in 49.2% of the cases, and to 0.2-0.4 in 23.1% of the patients. In the children presenting with post-traumatic cataract, the visual activity increased to 0.8-1.0 in 3.7% of the cases, to 0. 5-0.7 in 14.8 in 14.8% of the cases, and to 0.2-0.4 in 33.3% of the patients with this pathology. Conclusion. The removal of cataract with simultaneous implantation of the intraocular lens into the capsular sac is the highly physiological treatment that improves the conditions for the management of amblyopia and makes it possible to increase the number of eyes with improved visual function after the surgical treatment of this pathology. The application of the small-incision technology allows the occurrence of inflammatory reactions during the post-operative period to be reduced.