The Surgical Management of Posterior Lenticonus Associated with Pediatric Cataract

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical characteristics of posterior lenticonus associated with pediatric cataracts and to identify the factors associated with final visual acuities after cataract surgery. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients (46 eyes) who were diagnosed with posterior lenticonus preoperatively or during the operation were involved in this study. We investigated the age at diagnosis, the severity of lens opacity, the pre- and postoperative best corrected visual acuity, and the effectiveness of amblyopia treatment. RESULTS: The mean age at presentation was 39.0+/-37.4 months, and the mean follow-up period was 42.8+/-33.5 months postoperatively. Nine patients (23%) had bilateral posterior lenticonus, and the mean age of bilateral cases was lower (p<0.001) and the lens opacity more severe than those of unilateral cases (P=0.001). Fifteen eyes (32.6%) were surgically identified as having posterior lenticonus during lens aspiration, the mean age of surgically identified cases was lower (p<0.001) and the lens opacity more severe then those of preoperatively diagnosed cases (P=0.014). The age at initial examination was negatively correlated with final visual acuities in log MAR (P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral and surgically identified posterior lenticoni were associated with younger age and more severe lens opacity. The final visual acuities were better in patients with late onsets of lens opacities.