1HOD, Senior Consultant, Dept. of Strabismus & Pediatric Ophthalmology
2Resident, Dept. of Strabismus & Pediatric Ophthalmology
3HOD, Senior Consultant, Dept. of Cornea & Community Ophthalmology
*Corresponding Author: Email: divakant@gmail.com
Online published on 14 June, 2017.
To study the visual outcomes and cause of poor visual prognosis in pediatric cataract patients in North East India.
Retrospective analyses of 283 eyes of patients with cataract below age of 18 years with minimum follow up of 6 months were included. Pre-operative and post-operative visual outcomes of patients undergoing cataract surgery at tertiary eye care hospital were analyzed. Statistical analysis was done using Chi Square test.
There was a male preponderance with 194 males (68.5%) and 89 females (31.4%). The most common type of cataract encountered was developmental (28.9%). According to morphology, 48.08% eyes had lamellar/zonular cataract. Vision following surgery was greater than 6/60 in 144 eyes (50.8%). Vision could not be assessed in 15% cases pre-operatively compared to 7.7% post-operatively. IOL was implanted in 77.3% cases. The most common associated ocular condition was nystagmus in 57 cases (20.1%). The most important factor associated with poor visual outcome was amblyopia (38.2%).
Pediatric cataract continues to be a challenge and a major cause of reduced vision in developing countries. Awareness, early intervention go a long way in preventing the development of amblyopia and improving the morbidity of children with cataract.
Amblyopia, Childhood blindness, Pediatric Cataract
