Central corneal thickness and intraocular pressure in children undergoing congenital cataract surgery: a prospective, longitudinal study

• Published in: British journal of ophthalmology Vol. 96; no. 9; pp. 1190 - 1194
• Main Authors: Resende, Graziela Massa, Lupinacci, Álvaro P C, Arieta, Carlos Eduardo Leite, Costa, Vital P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JR BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.09.2012; BMJ Publishing Group; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Age; Aphakia, Postcataract - epidemiology; Aphakia, Postcataract - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Cataract - congenital; Cataract - epidemiology; Cataract - pathology; Cataract Extraction - adverse effects; Cataract Extraction - statistics & numerical data; Cataracts; central corneal thickness; Child; child health (paediatrics); Child, Preschool; Children & youth; Congenital cataract; contact lens; Cooperation; cornea; Cornea - pathology; diagnostic tests/investigation; epidemiology; Eye surgery; Female; field of vision; Follow-Up Studies; Glaucoma; Humans; imaging; Infant, Newborn; Intraocular Pressure; lens and zonules; Lens diseases; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Ophthalmology; Optic nerve; Prospective Studies; public health; Responsible persons; Risk Assessment - methods; Risk Factors; Studies; Surgery; Surgical techniques; treatment surgery; visual perception; wound healing; Human; Cataract; Cornea; Congenital; Thickness; Prospective; Eye disease; Lens disease; Treatment; Surgery; Ophthalmology; Child; Anterior segment disease; Intraocular pressure
• ISSN: 0007-1161; 1468-2079
• DOI: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2012-301684

Aim To investigate changes in central corneal thickness (CCT) and intraocular pressure (IOP) in children after congenital cataract surgery, as well as risk factors associated with these changes. Methods 37 eyes of 26 children with congenital cataract undergoing surgery were prospectively recruited. IOP and CCT measurements were performed before the surgery and 6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months after the procedure. Results Among the 37 eyes, 15 became aphakic and 22 pseudophakic. Mean CCT significantly increased from 556.24±44.19 to 585.07±56.45 μm (p=0.003) after 3 years, whereas mean IOP significantly increased from 12.05±2.3 to 13.89±2.96 mm Hg (p=0.037). Aphakic eyes underwent surgery at an early age (15.16±32.02 months) compared with pseudophakic eyes (71.48±53.14 months) (p<0.001). After 3 years, mean CCT change in aphakic eyes (56.10±46.97 μm) was significantly higher than in pseudophakic eyes (12.71±38.41 μm) (p=0.015). Age at the time of surgery was inversely correlated to CCT change (r=−0.34, p=0.04), but not to IOP change (r=−0.18, p=0.27). When surgery was performed between 0 and 1 year of age, mean CCT change at 3 years was 70.11±42.3 μm, compared with 6.27±28.09, −17.0±8.04 and 48.33±34.99 μm when surgeries were performed at 1–5, 5–10 and >10 years old, respectively (p<0.001). IOP change was not correlated to CCT change (r=0.31, p=0.06). Conclusions CCT increases in eyes undergoing congenital cataract surgery, especially when the surgery is performed at an early age.