Clinical Features of Strabismus in Patients with Unilateral Pediatric Cataract

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The incidence rate and clinical features of strabismus and factors affecting onset of strabismus were evaluated in patients with unilateral pediatric cataract. METHODS: A total of 42 patients who underwent lens removal for treatment of unilateral cataract between January 1996 and January 2011 were evaluated. Patients were divided into 3 groups (Ortho/Ortho, Ortho/Strabismus, and Strabismus/Strabismus) according to preoperative and postoperative ocular alignment. Age at surgery, visual acuity, amblyopia, and spherical equivalent were compared among the 3 groups. RESULTS: Of the total patients, 7 had strabismus preoperatively and 5 developed postoperative strabismus. Thus, a total of 12 patients had postoperative strabismus. Preoperatively, 5 patients had exotriopa and 2 patients had esotropia. Postoperatively, 9 patients had exotropia and 3 patients had esotropia. Exotropia was more common than esotropia. In comparison of the 3 groups, postoperative visual acuity was significantly low, and differences in visual acuity between normal eye and cataract eye were significantly larger in the Ortho/Strabismus group. There were no significant differences among the 3 groups in age at surgery, amblyopia, or spherical equivalent. CONCLUSIONS: In the patients with unilateral pediatric cataract, exotropia was the most common type. Because there is a high possibility of postoperative strabismus in patients who had lower postoperative visual acuity, careful observation is needed in these patients.