Comparison of the MTI Photoscreener and the Welch-Allyn SureSight autorefractor in a tertiary care center.

INTRODUCTION: The MTI photoscreener (MTI) and the Welch-Allyn SureSight autorefractor are commonly used for preschool vision screening. We compared both of these methods on 100 consecutive patients in a prospective, randomized, masked, clinical trial conducted at a tertiary care center. METHODS: One hundred patients between 1 and 6 years of age were included in the study. All participants underwent a comprehensive eye examination with cycloplegic refraction. Examination failure analysis was done on the SureSight data using the manufacturer's referral criteria, the Vision in Preschoolers study (VIP) 90% specificity criteria, the VIP 94% specificity criteria, and the referral criteria proposed by Rowatt and colleagues. RESULTS: Data were successfully obtained on 76% of children using the SureSight and 96% with the MTI. The sensitivity and specificity of the SureSight to detect clinically significant amblyogenic factors using the manufacturer's criteria was 96.6 and 38.1%, using the VIP 90% criteria was 79.3 and 64.3%, using the VIP 94% criteria was 67.2 and 69.0%, and using criteria proposed by Rowatt and colleagues was 62.1 and 73.8%. The sensitivity and specificity of the MTI photoscreener was 94.8 and 88.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Using the manufacturer's referral criteria, the SureSight had a sensitivity equal to the MTI photoscreener; however, the specificity was low and over-referrals were anticipated. As specificity levels were increased, a substantial number of children with amblyogenic risk factors were not appropriately identified within our study population..

Postoperative povidone-iodine prophylaxis in strabismus surgery.

PURPOSE: While antibiotic/steroid combinations are routinely administered during the first week after strabismus surgery, they can be costly and inconvenient and may be unnecessary. This study compares the use of single-dose 5% povidone-iodine drops versus a week-long course of antibiotic/steroid as a prophylaxis against postoperative infection in extraocular muscle surgery. METHODS: Retrospective chart review was performed of 1871 patients undergoing routine strabismus surgery. Patients received either a single application of 5% povidone-iodine solution to the operative eye(s) at the conclusion of the surgical procedure or a week-long course of topical antibiotic/steroid. Postoperative records were then reviewed to identify abnormalities or complications occurring during the first 2 months after surgery. RESULTS: Complete documentation was found for 1603 patients. Single-dose povidone-iodine prophylaxis was used in 953 cases (59.5%), and a postoperative course of topical antibiotic/steroid combination was used in 650 cases (40.5%). Of the 1603 cases, possible infection occurred in 46 patients (2.87%). Of the 46 possible infections, 20 (3.08%) occurred in 650 patients on an antibiotic/steroid combination and 26 (2.83%) occurred in the 953 patients treated with single-dose povidone-iodine prophylaxis. This difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.6815). No cases of orbital cellulitis or endophthalmitis occurred in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Single-dose povidone-iodine is an inexpensive alternative to postoperative antibiotic/steroid prophylaxis following routine strabismus surgery performed through a fornix incision. Patients who had reoperations and limbal incisions were more likely to have complicated postoperative courses: antibiotic/steroid use in these groups may be beneficial.

Endoscopic diode laser cyclophotocoagulation in the management of aphakic and pseudophakic glaucoma in children.

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) has been shown to be a useful adjunct in the management of a variety of difficult pediatric and adult glaucomas. This study reports the efficacy and safety of this procedure for pediatric aphakic and pseudophakic glaucoma. METHODS: ECP was performed on 34 eyes of 25 patients under 16 years of age with aphakic or pseudophakic glaucoma between April 1994 and November 2004. Patients were followed for a minimum of 12 months or until a treatment failure had been declared. Treatment failure was defined as postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) of >24 mm Hg and IOP lowering of less than 15% despite the addition of glaucoma medications or the occurrence of any visually significant complications. Aphakic eyes of patients with congenital glaucoma or an anterior segment dysgenesis were not included in the study group. RESULTS: Pretreatment IOP averaged 32.6 mm Hg in the 34 eyes, compared with a final postoperative average of 22.9 mm Hg. Mean follow-up period for study eyes was 44.4 months, and the average number of procedures per eye was 1.5. Overall success rate was 53% (18/34). Thirteen of the 34 eyes (38%) received one treatment only and were deemed a success. Retinal detachments developed in two eyes within the first postoperative month. CONCLUSIONS: ECP is a useful tool in the treatment of aphakic and pseudophakic glaucoma, with a low rate of visually significant complications. Retreatment of eyes improved the overall success rate, although experience with cases beyond two treatment sessions is limited. Hypotony was not encountered despite 8 of the 34 eyes receiving 360 degrees of total endocyclophotoablation to the ciliary processes.

Strabismus in pediatric pseudophakia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate strabismus associated with pediatric pseudophakia. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: Charts of 94 pediatric patients who underwent cataract extraction with primary intraocular lens implantation from 1990 to 2003 at Indiana University School of Medicine were reviewed. Only those patients who had pre-cataract extraction and post-cataract extraction alignment measurements were included. METHODS: Data were collected on gender, race, age at presentation, age at time of cataract surgery, and type of cataract. Pre-cataract extraction and post-cataract extraction data on visual acuity (VA), alignment, and amblyopia were recorded. Results of strabismus surgery were also evaluated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency, type and amount of strabismus, and results of strabismus surgery. RESULTS: Ninety-four pediatric pseudophakia patients were identified, and 37 (39%) had strabismus. Exotropia (46%) was more common than esotropia (41%). Factors not associated with the development of strabismus included age at presentation, interval between diagnosis and cataract extraction, race, and type of cataract. Factors statistically associated with the development of strabismus include pre-cataract extraction and post-cataract extraction VA, type of strabismus, and post-cataract extraction amblyopia. The mean pre-cataract extraction deviation of the group that had strabismus surgery was 22 prism diopters, and 75% were aligned at the last examination (mean follow up, 24 months). CONCLUSION: Strabismus occurs more frequently in pseudophakic pediatric patients than in the general pediatric population. Pseudophakic children should be monitored carefully for the development of strabismus, which in many cases can be successfully treated.

Astigmatism after small-incision clear corneal cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation in children.

PURPOSE: To investigate the magnitude of postoperative astigmatism in children having cataract extraction with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation through a 3.0 mm superior clear corneal incision. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. METHODS: This retrospective chart review comprised all pediatric patients having cataract surgery with IOL implantation through a 3.0 mm clear corneal incision from 1997 to 2002. One hundred two eyes of 75 patients were included. All refractions were performed manually by an experienced pediatric ophthalmologist. RESULTS: The mean postoperative retinoscopic cylinder in all patients was 0.63 diopter (D) (range 0.0 to 4.50 D) at 1 month, 0.40 D (range 0.0 to 1.75 D) at 6 months, and 0.51 D (range 0.0 to 2.50 D) at 1 year. Patients aged 0 to 36 months at the time of surgery had a mean postoperative cylinder of 0.22 D at 1 month, 0.03 D at 6 months, and 0.21 D at 1 year. Patients between 36 months and 6 years of age at surgery had a mean refractive cylinder of 0.50 D, 0.38 D, and 0.75 D, respectively. Patients older than 6 years at surgery had a mean refractive cylinder of 0.94 D, 0.75 D, and 0.76 D, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Small-incision clear corneal cataract extraction with IOL implantation in children led to minimal postoperative astigmatism that remained stable over time. Less astigmatism was observed in children having surgery before they were 36 months old.

Refractive change in pediatric pseudophakia: 6-year follow-up.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term evolution of refractive error changes in eyes of children who have primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation to allow more accurate prediction of what IOL power should be implanted at a given age. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. METHODS: This study comprised all children between 2 and 15 years of age who had posterior chamber IOL implantation and who were followed for a minimum of 4 years postoperatively. Thirty-eight eyes of 27 patients with a mean follow-up of 6.1 years were evaluated. All refractions were performed manually by an experienced pediatric ophthalmologist. RESULTS: Children operated on at age 2 or 3 years had a mean myopic shift of 4.60 diopters (D) (range 0.50 to 10.75 D) over a mean of 5.8 years postoperatively. Children operated on at age 6 or 7 years had a mean myopic shift of 2.68 D (range 0.50 to 6.60 D) over a mean of 5.3 years. Children operated on at age 8 or 9 years had a mean myopic shift of 1.25 D (range -0.75 to 2.60 D) over a mean of 6.8 years. Patients operated on between ages 10 and 15 years had a mean shift of 0.61 D (range 0 to 1.90 D) over a mean of 5.7 years. CONCLUSIONS: The mean rate of myopic shift decreased throughout childhood, and the range of shift among individuals narrowed as patient age increased. However, the ability to predict future myopic shift for a given individual remains difficult, especially in younger patients.

Complications in the first year following cataract surgery with and without IOL in infants and older children.

PURPOSE: The optimal role of intraocular lenses (IOLs) in infants remains a controversial topic for many reasons, including concerns about significant complications occurring in young rapidly developing eyes. METHODS: To assess the number and type of significant complications requiring further intervention occurring in the first postoperative year, we reviewed the records of 15 eyes of 13 infants undergoing lensectomy with posterior chamber IOL and pars plana vitrectomy (PPV)/capsulectomy under 6 months (group A) of age as part of an ongoing prospective study of IOL use in infants. This group was compared with a group of 16 children age 10 months to 5 years undergoing an identical procedure (group B) and a group of 33 infants less than 6 months of age undergoing lensectomy/vitrectomy without IOL (group C). RESULTS: Thirteen of 15 eyes in group A required additional surgery in the first postoperative year. Twelve of the 15 eyes (80%) developed secondary opacification across the visual axis posterior to the IOL requiring a second PPV and one eye developed pseudophakic glaucoma. Two patients required a third PPV to keep the visual axis clear. In group B, 0 of 16 (P <.0001) developed secondary opacification of the visual axis. In group C, 4 of 33 (12%; P <.0001) developed pupillary opacification in the first postoperative year. CONCLUSIONS: Intraocular lens implants in infants may be associated with a higher complication rate requiring further surgery during the first postoperative year than is lensectomy/vitrectomy surgery without IOL implant in infants or lensectomy/IOL/vitrectomy surgery in children older than 6 months of age.