Benchmarks for outcome indicators in pediatric cataract surgery.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to establish benchmarks for outcome indicators that may help ascertain the quality of pediatric cataract surgery with primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.Patients and methodsA retrospective chart review of patients older than 2 years undergoing cataract surgery with primary IOL implantation, by multiple surgeons in a tertiary-care center, from November 2005 to February 2016 was conducted. Patients with ocular comorbidities that would affect the outcomes were excluded. The outcome measures chosen were as follows: (1) final best corrected Snellen visual acuity (BCVA) in patients who had bilateral cataract surgery analyzed at the last clinic visit; (2) prediction error (PE)=expected refraction-actual refraction. Mean PE and mean absolute PE were assessed 1 month postoperatively, irrespective of age or laterality.ResultsMean age at surgery was 8.3±4.6 years and mean follow-up duration was 3.7±2.7 years. The results of outcome measures were as follows: (1) BCVA was 20/40 or better in 96% (n=124 eyes, mean patient age: 8.3±4.6 years). Remaining five eyes had amblyopia with two eyes having BCVA worse than 20/100 that did not respond to amblyopia treatment. (2) Mean PE was 0.3±1.1 D and mean absolute PE was 0.9±0.7 D. PE was within ±0.5 D in 43.0%, ±1.0 D in 66%, and ±2.0 D in 95% (n=235 eyes).ConclusionGood visual acuity after cataract surgery should be expected for children with bilateral cataracts, setting a high benchmark similar to that recommended in adult cataract surgery. Prediction error is greater in pediatric eyes than in adult eyes, setting a lower benchmark. This study establishes benchmark for outcome indicators in pediatric patients older than 2 years undergoing cataract surgery with primary IOL implantation.

Adjustable suture strabismus surgery.

Surgical management of strabismus remains a challenge because surgical success rates, short-term and long-term, are not ideal. Adjustable suture strabismus surgery has been available for decades as a tool to potentially enhance the surgical outcomes. Intellectually, it seems logical that having a second chance to improve the outcome of a strabismus procedure should increase the overall success rate and reduce the reoperation rate. Yet, adjustable suture surgery has not gained universal acceptance, partly because Level 1 evidence of its advantages is lacking, and partly because the learning curve for accurate decision making during suture adjustment may span a decade or more. In this review we describe the indications, techniques, and published results of adjustable suture surgery. We will discuss the option of 'no adjustment' in cases with satisfactory alignment with emphasis on recent advances allowing for delayed adjustment. The use of adjustable sutures in special circumstances will also be reviewed. Consistently improved outcomes in the adjustable arm of nearly all retrospective studies support the advantage of the adjustable option, and strabismus surgeons are advised to become facile in the application of this approach.

Impact of anterior capsule polishing on anterior capsule opacification after cataract surgery: a randomized clinical trial.

AIMS: To evaluate the effect of anterior capsule polishing on the development of anterior capsule opacification (ACO) in patients undergoing cataract surgery. METHODS: This prospective randomized observational double-masked clinical trial comprised 120 eyes of 60 consecutive patients with bilateral age-related cataract who underwent phacoemulsification. The patients were randomly assigned to one of the two groups: One eye received a 360 degree anterior capsule polishing (group 1 (cases)) and the fellow eye was without anterior capsule polishing (group 2 (controls)) The primary observation was to observe the development of ACO between the 2 groups, whereas the secondary observation was to measure uveal inflammation. ACO was evaluated at 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months. RESULTS: At the 1-week follow-up, there was no significant difference in the development of ACO between the two groups. At 1 month, 54 (90%) eyes developed ACO in controls and 26 (43.3%) eyes in cases (P<0.001). However, at 6 months, there was no significant difference in the development of ACO between controls and cases (P=0.500). The odds of having cells and flare were significantly more in cases compared with controls at first postoperative day (cells: OR, 39.27; 95% CI, 13.49-114.26 and flare: OR, 48.0; 95% CI, 15.57-147.97). CONCLUSIONS: ACO was significantly lower at 1 month in cases compared with controls. However, the difference in ACO between the two groups was insignificant at 6 months. A significant difference in anterior segment inflammation was documented in cases on the first postoperative day. There was no detectable benefit of performing scraping on the anterior capsule to avoid opacification after phacoemulsification.E