Introduction. Childhood cataracts have different morphologies and different presentation time. If clouding of the lens interferes with visual development, the only type of treatment is lens extraction surgery in order to prevent low vision or blindness development. Intraocular lens implantation is also successfully used in children to correct eye refraction after lens extraction surgery. After surgery combined correction using spectacles or contact lenses is frequently carried out.
Aim of the Study. To analyze paediatric cataract morphology and cataract presentation time. To compare patients with different morphological types of cataract, as well as patients with different onsets of lens clouding.To compare vision outcomes in these two classification groups.
Materials and methods. There was performed a retrospective analysis of 83 childhood cataract eyes, with the surgery being performed in the time period from 2006-2013. Visual acuity, contrast-sensitivity, binocular functions, and refraction were measured third month, 6th month, and 9th month after surgery, and then later once a year. Postoperative complications such as secondary cataract and secondary glaucoma were diagnosed. Visual development in different cataract groups was compared.
The patients were divided into groups depending on cataract presentation time and the type of cataract morphology thus creating five major morphological groups and 12 sub-groups. Established groups were compared to each other by analysing visual development. Results. Pearson’s chi-square statistical analysis showed that there is a statistically significant correlation (p <0.05) between morphological classification and cataract presentation over time. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) reveals that postoperative visual abilities (visual outcome)(p <0.001) differ across morphological and cataract presentation groups.
Conclusions. Visual development of childhood cataract patients is dependent on the onset of cataract and its morphology, it is affected by cataract surgery timeliness, quality of surgery, postoperative refractive correction possibilities and tolerability; myopic deviation; close patient monitoring; early diagnosis, and treatment of postoperative complications. Futher research is required in order to conduct mathematical modelling of the visual outcome after paediatric cataract surgery.
