Visual and Refractive Outcomes of Children After Early Secondary Cataract Extraction Following Wound Repair for Penetrating Ocular Trauma.

PURPOSE To evaluate the visual and refractive outcomes in children 8 years of age or younger with corneal laceration and cataract following penetrating ocular injuries who underwent primary corneal tear repair followed within 1 to 8 weeks by early secondary cataract extraction. METHODS This retrospective, non-comparative case series reviewed the admission and operative charts of children 8 years of age or younger (range: 3 to 8 years) who underwent corneal wound repair as the primary surgical procedure followed within 1 to 8 weeks by cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation, with a minimum follow-up period of 6 months. The main outcome measures were best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and refractive error as the spherical equivalent at the final follow-up visit. RESULTS A total of 47 children (33 boys, 14 girls) were included. The mean age at the time of injury was 5.9 ± 2.2 years (range: 3 to 8 years). Follow-up periods ranged from 6 months to 3 years (median: 18 months). The mean time gap between the wound repair and cataract extraction was 5 weeks (range: 1 to 8 weeks). Approximately 36 (77%) eyes obtained BCVA better than 6/18. All but one eye achieved BCVA better than 6/60. The deviation from emmetropia was less than 1.00 diopter (D) in 23 (54%) eyes, 1.00 to 3.00 D in 15 (35%) eyes, and more than 3.00 D in 5 (12%) eyes. CONCLUSIONS Early removal of cataract with intraocular lens implantation 1 to 8 weeks after the primary wound repair in young children with penetrating corneal injuries can result in excellent visual and refractive outcomes with early intervention and aggressive amblyopia treatment. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2018;55(2):122-127.].