Indian study evaluates long-term pediatric cataract outcomes

Parikshit Gogate

ABU DHABI — A study evaluating the long-term outcome of pediatric cataract showed that visual acuity of 20/63 or better was achieved in 43% of patients and 20/200 or better was achieved in 61% of patients, according to a presenter here.

"Results in children are poor in developing countries and not much better elsewhere. Nevertheless, vision function questionnaires show that operated children have significantly better ability to perform tasks like identifying coins, threading needles, climbing stairs," Parikshit Gogate, MD, said at the World Ophthalmology Congress.

The study was conducted at Lions NAB Eye Hospital in Miraj, India, in conjunction with Orbis International. After examining records for 374 bilateral pediatric cataract surgeries performed between 2004 and 2007, 129 patients were identified and either transported to the hospital with their parents for examination or examined in their homes.

"Most children were operated between the age of 6 and 10. The time between surgery and final assessment ranged between 3 and 8 years," Dr. Gogate said.

"Congenital cataract performed poorly, with only 37% achieving 20/63 vision. We also had more than 100 cases of white cataracts, of which only 38% were 20/63 or better. Older children did better, probably because their visual system had already developed at the time of surgery. Phaco led to better results than manual small incision. Children who had a regular follow-up did better," Dr. Gogate said.

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