Glaucoma Following Pediatric Cataract Surgery: Incidence and Risk Factors

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence and risk factors of glaucoma after pediatric cataract surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 173 eyes which underwent pediatric cataract surgery from June 1998 to December 2009. The following parameters were ascertained sex, laterality of cataract, age at diagnosis, age at surgery, cataract type, operation methods, optic capture, axial length (AXL), keratometry, follow-up period, and association of general abnormality. RESULTS: Out of the 173 eyes reviewed, 8.6% were diagnosed with glaucoma. The factors not significantly different in the glaucoma group compared to the non-glaucoma group were sex, laterality of cataract, age at diagnosis, AXL, and keratometry (p > 0.05). The incidence of glaucoma was significantly higher in the aphakic group compared to the pseudophakic group. Young age at surgery, no optic capture, pars plana lensectomy, sulcus IOL implantation, and nuclear type cataract were significantly associated with increased risk of postoperative glaucoma (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with several predictors of postoperative glaucoma which may affect visual acuity may require extensive postoperative care after pediatric cataract surgery.