The efficiency of congenital cataract management in children

Aim: This study aimed to analyze the results of congenital cataract treatment in children who underwent surgery in VP Vyhodcev Eye Hospital from 2015 to 2019 and to compare these data with global results.

Material and methods: A retrospective analysis of electronic outpatient medical records of children who underwent surgery for congenital cataract during the period from 2015 to 2019 included the following parameters: age at the first admission to the Eye Hospital, delay between the first admission and cataract surgery, age at surgery, best corrected visual acuity at the end of follow-up, and presence of any eye comorbidities. To compare the obtained data with the results of similar studies worldwide, articles on this topic published during the past 5 years were searched.

Results: This retrospective study analyzed 71 electronic outpatient medical records of children with congenital cataract (96 eyes). The age at the first admission was 33.5 [60.0–81.5] months. The best corrected visual acuity before surgery was 0.2 [0.1–0.4]. The delay between the first admission and cataract surgery was 5.0 [2.5–12.0] months; thus, children underwent surgery for congenital cataract at age 51 [14.5–94.5] months. In all patients, lens aspiration with intraocular lens implantation resulted in significant improvement of visual acuity to 0.4 [0.1–0.9]. The comparative analysis revealed a trend for earlier recognition and surgical treatment of congenital cataract in European countries, while a significant delay before surgery and worse visual outcomes are common in developing countries.

Conclusion: The current state of ophthalmological care for children with congenital cataract in Russia allows achieving good visual outcomes comparable with published results in Europe. Nonetheless, further studies are required to determine reasons for later recognition and surgery of congenital cataract in children