Changes in central corneal thickness (CCT) in children undergoing cataract surgery: A longitudinal prospective study at a tertiary eye care centre in Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Glaucoma is a known cause of visual loss despite successful congenital cataract surgery. The reported prevalence of glaucoma after congenital cataract extraction varies from 1 to 32%. Some authors have reported increased CCTs among children who underwent cataract extraction. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether the increased CCT was present before cataract surgery or developed post-operatively.

To evaluate longitudinal changes in CCT following congenital cataract surgery with and without IOL implantation.

The study was a prospective, longitudinal, observational clinical study.

A total 30 cataractous eyes of paediatric patients (0 to 16 yrs) were enrolled from the paediatric ophthalmology clinic of our institute. CCT was measured preoperatively in all 30 cataractous eyes, out of which 15 eyes were left aphakic and the rest were made pseudophakic. CCT was measured at 1 month and 3 month post-operative period in both the groups.

The data collected was tabulated and analysed following standard statistical protocol using Metlab software.

Preoperative CCT values in cataractous eyes were found to tally with the mean CCT of healthy eyes in that same age group. The post-op CCTs after 1 and 3 month were found to be greater than the pre-operative measurements in all the patients. However, it was only in the aphakic group that the increase in CCT was found to be statistically significant. [aphakic p=0.003(1 month), 0.004(3 month)]; [pseudophakic p= 0.11(1month), 0.06(3 month)].

In aphakic eyes, cornea was found to have significantly increased CCTs post-operatively which in turn may influence IOP measurements (false positive results), glaucoma diagnosis, follow-up and treatment. In pseudophakic eyes, cornea was not found to have significantly increased CCTs post-operatively.