Optical penalization with contact lenses for children with unilateral aphakia: an alternative to patching.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of high-plus contact lenses as a form of optical penalization in children with unilateral aphakia. METHODS: An internal database review was used to identify 10 patients with unilateral aphakia after congenital cataract extraction who underwent treatment with a high-plus contact lens in their sound eye after a period of failure with traditional occlusive patching. The details surrounding the switch from patching to optical penalization with contact lens were recorded along with related changes in compliance and any demonstrable effect suggestive of an improvement in visual ability. RESULTS: After an average 15-month delay between the end of occlusive patching and the start of optical penalization with high-plus contact lenses, 6 of 10 patients achieved good compliance with high-plus contact lens therapy and most families were able to successfully administer the lenses according to the prescribed regimen. Three patients showed evidence of a fixation switch to the contact-lens-corrected aphakic eye during optical penalization of the sound eye. No safety issues were reported. CONCLUSION: Using a high-plus contact lens to optically penalize the sound eye of a unilaterally aphakic child seems to have the potential as an effective alternative to occlusive patching for those with compliance issues. A prospective study is warranted to assess long-term safety, and above all, efficacy in visual outcome.