Clinical Analysis of Traumatic Cataract with Corneal Laceration in Children

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the visual outcome according to the operation method, prognostic factor and postoperative complication in children with traumatic cataract and corneal laceration. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed causes, duration between trauma and operation, size and extent of corneal laceration, operation method, complication, and final visual outcome in 34 children, 10 years old or younger, with traumatic cataract and corneal laceration undergoing operation with a minimum follow-up period of one year. RESULTS: Twenty-four eyes (70.6%) and 13 eyes (38.2%) demonstrated final visual acuity of 0.4 or better and 0.8 or better, respectively. Age, duration between trauma and operation, and size of corneal laceration had no relation to final vision, but visual prognosis was poor if there was the involvement of vitreous body or retina (P<0.05). Sixteen eyes (84.2%) of 19 eyes with intraocular lenses (IOL) and 8 eyes (53.3%) of 15 eyes without IOL achieved final visual acuity of 0.4 or better, and there was significant difference between the two groups (p<0.05). Postoperative complications were posterior capsular opacification (38.2%), pupillary capture (23.5%), etc., and there was poor final visual acuity in cases of endophthalmitis (8.8%) and retinal detachment (8.8%). CONCLUSIONS: In children with trauamtic cataract and corneal laceration, if the posterior segment or central cornea is not involved, cataract operation with IOL implantation results in satisfactory visual outcome.