Outcomes of cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation with and without intracameral triamcinolone in pediatric eyes.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether intracameral triamcinolone has an effect on anterior segment inflammation and visual axis obscuration after pediatric cataract surgery with intraocular (IOL) implantation. SETTING: Iladevi Cataract and IOL Research Institute, Ahmedabad, India. METHODS: This retrospective age-matched case-control study comprised consecutive eyes of children having phacoaspiration, posterior capsulectomy, vitrectomy, and IOL implantation. In the study group, eyes received a standardized application of an intracameral preservative-free triamcinolone acetonide suspension intraoperatively. In the control group, age-matched consecutive eyes had surgery with a similar technique but without intracameral preservative-free triamcinolone acetonide. Cell deposits, posterior synechias, visual axis obscuration, and intraocular pressure (IOP) were evaluated 1 month and 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The mean patient age at surgery was 9.15 months +/- 5.04 (SD) in the study group (41 eyes) and 9.34 +/- 5.10 months in the control group (83 eyes) (P = .91). The visual axis was not obscured in any eye in the study group, while 9 eyes (10.8%) in the control group had an obscured axis; the difference between groups was statistically significant (P<.029). Six eyes (7.2%) in the control group required secondary membranectomy with pars plana vitrectomy. There was a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in posterior synechias and cell deposits (both P<.033) and no significant difference in preoperative or postoperative IOP (P = .29 and P = .50, respectively). CONCLUSION: Pediatric eyes receiving intracameral triamcinolone intraoperatively had significantly less anterior segment inflammation and no visual axis obscuration after cataract surgery with IOL implantation.

Triamcinolone-assisted vitrectomy in pediatric cataract surgery: intraoperative effectiveness and postoperative outcome.

PURPOSE: To evaluate intraoperative effectiveness and postoperative outcome of intracameral, preservative-free triamcinolone acetonide in pediatric cataract surgery. METHODS: A prospective, interventional, observational case series was performed in children undergoing congenital cataract surgery. Three standardized applications of triamcinolone acetonide were used. Postoperatively, IOP, pachymetry, glaucoma, posterior synechiae, cell deposits, and posterior capsule opacification were studied at 1 week, 1 month, and 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: Mean age at the time of surgery was 14.8 +/- 12.2 months. Of 43 eyes, 5 were kept aphakic and 38 received IOL implantation. After manual posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis and the first injection of triamcinolone, the anterior vitreous face disturbance was visualized as free-floating vitreous strands going into the incision in 18.6% of eyes (8 of 43). Triamcinolone was injected a second time after anterior vitrectomy: residual vitreous strands were identified and removed in 7 of these 8 eyes. Triamcinolone was used for a third time after IOL implantation: residual vitreous strands were identified in 5.3% of eyes (2 of 38). Mean IOP was 12.2 +/- 2.2 mm Hg preoperatively and was 13.6 +/- 3.2 at the 1 week follow-up visit, 12.8 +/- 2.8 at 1 month, and 12.4 +/- 2.0 mm Hg at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Preservative-free triamcinolone acetonide improved visualization of the vitreous during pediatric cataract surgery, thereby ensuring thorough and complete anterior vitrectomy. IOP was not affected, and no adverse postoperative results were observed.

Comparison between Ringer's lactate and balanced salt solution on postoperative outcomes after phacoemulsfication: a randomized clinical trial.

AIM: To compare the effects of balanced salt solution (BSS) and Ringer's lactate (RL) on corneal thickness, endothelial morphology, and postoperative anterior chamber inflammation in eyes undergoing phacoemulsification. SETTING: Iladevi cataract and IOL research center, Ahmedabad, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective randomized study comprised 90 consecutive patients with age-related cataract who were randomly assigned to either Group 1 (n = 45) with BSS or Group 2 (n = 45) with RL. Observations made included measurement of central corneal thickness (CCT), presence of anterior chamber flare and cells, endothelial cell loss, and change in coefficient of variation (CV). Data was analyzed using Mann Whitney test and test of proportion. RESULTS: Mean increase in CCT on postoperative Day 1 was 58microm and 97microm in Groups 1 and 2 respectively ( P = 0.01). Increase in CCT at one month was 10microm and 11microm in Groups 1 and 2 respectively ( P = 0.99); increase in CCT at three months was 3microm and 6microm in Groups 1 and 2 respectively ( P = 0.86). Number of eyes with flare grades in a range of 0 to 3 was statistically higher in Group 2 on postoperative Day 1 ( P = 0.004, 0.016, < 0.001, 0.047 for Grade 0, 1, 2 and 3 respectively). Number of eyes with cells of Grade 3 on first postoperative day was significantly higher in Group 2 as compared to Group 1 ( P = 0.004). Three months postoperatively, endothelial cell loss was 5.5% and 7.8% in Groups 1 and 2 ( P = 0.21) and change in CV was 3 and 5.4 in Groups 1 and 2 ( P = 0.20) respectively. CONCLUSION: BSS offers a significant advantage over RL in terms of increase in corneal thickness and postoperative inflammation on the first postoperative day in patients undergoing phacoemulsification.

Intraoperative performance and postoperative outcomes of cataract surgery in infant eyes with microphthalmos.

PURPOSE: To report the intraoperative performance and postoperative outcomes in microphthalmic eyes of infants younger than 1 year having bilateral cataract surgery. SETTING: Iladevi Cataract & IOL Research Centre, Ahmedabad, India. METHODS: This prospective observational study excluded eyes with ocular trauma, inflammation, posterior persistent fetal vasculature causing stretching of the ciliary processes or tractional retinal detachment, aniridia, or chorioretinal coloboma. Intraoperative observations included the rate of peripheral extension of the anterior capsule tear, intraoperative iris prolapse/trauma, and posterior capsule tear. All eyes were left aphakic. Postoperative observations included visual outcome, posterior synechias, visual axis obscuration (VAO), and glaucoma. RESULTS: The study evaluated 42 eyes of 21 infants. The mean age at surgery was 4.0 months +/- 2.6 (SD) and the mean follow-up, 25.6 +/-11.3 months. Surgery was performed using the limbal approach in 30 eyes (71.4%) and by pars plicata lensectomy in 12 eyes (28.6%). In the limbal group, 3 eyes (10.0%) had an incomplete anterior capsulorhexis, 2 eyes (6.7%) had iris trauma, and 2 eyes (6.7%) had peripheral extension of the posterior capsulectomy edge. At the final follow-up, visual acuity remained stable in 4 eyes (9.5%) and was improved in 38 eyes (90.5%). The complications were posterior synechias in 15 eyes (35.7%), glaucoma in 13 eyes (30.9%), and VAO in 7 eyes (16.7%). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that good visual outcomes can be obtained in microphthalmic patients with bilateral congenital cataract after early surgical intervention, with an acceptable rate of serious postoperative complications.

Triamcinolone-assisted vitrectomy in pediatric cataract surgery.

We describe a technique to manage anterior vitreous face disturbance that may occur during performance of a manual posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (PCCC) in pediatric eyes. The technique renders the vitreous visible to the anterior segment surgeon and ensures a thorough and complete anterior vitrectomy in congenital cataract surgery after a manual PCCC using preservative-free triamcinolone acetonide.

DisCoVisc versus the soft-shell technique using Viscoat and Provisc in phacoemulsification: randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects and outcomes of DisCoVisc (hyaluronic acid 1.6%-chondroitin sulfate 4.0%) with those of the soft-shell technique using Viscoat (sodium hyaluronate 3.0%-chondroitin sulfate 4.0%) and Provisc (sodium hyaluronate 1.0%) in phacoemulsification. SETTING: Iladevi Cataract & IOL Research Centre, Ahmedabad, India. METHODS: This prospective randomized clinical trial comprised 100 eyes having phacoemulsification by the same surgeon using a standardized technique. Eyes were randomly assigned to DisCoVisc (Group 1) or Viscoat and Provisc (Group 2). Preoperative and postoperative examinations included absolute change in pachymetry, percentage difference in endothelial cell density (ECD) and coefficient of variation (CV), and anterior segment inflammation. RESULTS: The mean postoperative central corneal thickness (CCT) in Group 1 and Group 2 was 590.96+/-46.05 microm and 586.94+/-50.57 microm, respectively, at 1 day; 554.14+/-35.45 microm and 551.65+/-37.69 microm, respectively, at 7 days; and 533.74+/-29.12 microm and 536.44+/-35.59 microm, respectively, at 1 month. The between-group differences in CCT were not statistically significant. At 3 months, the mean ECD was 2427.06+/-243.26 cells/mm2 and 2475.30+/-222.83 cells/mm2, respectively, and the mean CV, 42.38+/-7.94 cells/mm2 and 41.66+/-7.71 cells/mm2, respectively. There was no significant difference in the mean ECD between preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively or in corneal thickness between preoperatively and 1, 7, and 30 days postoperatively. CONCLUSION: A single injection of DisCoVisc was effective, and its postoperative outcomes were comparable to those of combined Viscoat and Provisc.