Data from: Long-term visual outcomes of secondary intraocular lens implantation in children with congenital cataract

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term visual outcomes
and factors affecting visual results in children undergoing secondary
intraocular lens (IOL) implantation following primary congenital cataract
extraction. Methods: Children with congenital cataracts who underwent
secondary IOL implantation for aphakia at the Eye and ENT Hospital of
Fudan University between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2007, were
retrospectively reviewed. One eye was randomly selected in children with
bilateral cataracts. Laterality, type of cataract (total or partial
opacity), sex, age at primary and secondary surgeries, visual axis opacity
(VAO), compliance with amblyopia therapy, postoperative ocular
complications, refractive error, ocular alignment, and best corrected
visual acuity (BCVA) at last follow-up were recorded; potential factors
that might have affected the visual results were evaluated. Results:
Seventy-six bilateral and 34 unilateral congenital cataract cases were
analyzed; the mean ages of the children were 12.70±5.06 and 12.50±2.71
years at final follow-up, the mean follow-up periods from IOL implantation
were 94.93±24.22 and 109.09±18.89 months, and the mean BCVA (Log MAR)
values were 0.51±0.37 and 1.05±0.46, respectively. Final BCVA after
secondary IOL implantation was significantly associated with laterality,
type of cataract, age at primary cataract extraction, compliance with
amblyopia therapy, and refractive correction after surgery. No significant
associations were found between BCVA and sex, age at secondary IOL
implantation, VAO, or other ocular complications. The most common ocular
complications were VAO and elevated intraocular pressure after surgery.
There were no other complications, with the exception of one eye with IOL
dislocation. Conclusions: The results indicate that the important
determinants of long-term visual outcomes in children with congenital
cataracts undergoing secondary IOL implantation are laterality, cataract
type, age at initial cataract extraction, compliance with amblyopia
therapy, and refractive error.