Purpose: Cases of pediatric cataract were assessed at the Department of Cornea and Cataract of the São Geraldo Eye Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais, from June 1998 to November 2000. Methods: Thirty-seven eyes of 31 patients were prospectively analyzed. Thirty-five eyes (94.6%) had congenital cataract and 2 eyes (5.4%) had traumatic cataract. The surgical approach depended on the age of the patients. Patients were classified into the following groups: Group I: (under 1 year of age): manual aspiration of the crystalline lens, with no intraocular lens (IOL) implantation with primary posterior capsulotomy in two eyes; and primary posterior capsulorhexis (PPC) in four eyes and anterior vitrectomy (AV) through limbus in all cases. Group II: (from 1 to 5 years of age): manual aspiration of the crystalline lens with IOL implantation with PPC and AV through limbus. Group III: (from 1 to 5 years of age): manual aspiration of the crystalline lens with IOL implantation with posterior primary capsulotomy and AV through pars-plana. Group IV: (over 5 years of age): manual aspiration of the crystalline lens with IOL implantation without capsulotomy/PPC and AV. In some cases anterior and posterior capsulorhexis were performed utilizing radiofrequency. The primary posterior capsulotomy was performed utilizing the vitreofagus of the Universal -- Alcon phacoemulsificator. Results: IOL implantation was performed in 31 eyes (83.8%): 28 (90.3%) in-the-bag implantation and 3 (9.7%) in the ciliary sulcus. The follow-up period varied from 2 to 27 months. In group IV, 53.8% (7 eyes), had secondary capsular opacification, which underwent YAG laser capsulotomy. Conclusion: Use of the radiofrequency for anterior capsulorhexis and PPC as well as the AV improved the surgical outcome of pediatric cataract.
Cataract; Cataract extraction; Capsulorhexis; Child
