Surgical challenges of posterior optic capture in pediatric cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: The efficacy of posterior optic capture (POC) in reducing posterior capsule opacification (PCO) in pediatric cataract is well recognized. The purpose of this paper was to identify the surgical challenges when attempting this technique and highlight the etiquettes to follow when performing this maneuver. METHODS: Prospective observational noncomparative case series. Children diagnosed with congenital or developmental cataracts undergoing cataract surgery and primary IOL implantation with posterior optic capture (and no anterior vitrectomy) from June 2017 to April 2022 at a tertiary care referral institute were included. Records of all intraoperative findings and postoperative complications until the last follow-up were noted. RESULTS: Posterior optic capture was attempted in 53 eyes of 49 children aged 2.4 ± 1.98 years. The mean follow-up of the patients was 16.5 ± 14.2 months (range 6 months-5 years). Successful POC could be performed in 46 eyes (86.8%). Two eyes developed posterior capsular opacification at the last follow-up. In eyes where POC could not be performed, five of these (83%) were children below 12 months of age with half of them having a preexisting posterior capsular defect. CONCLUSION: Posterior optic capture is technically challenging with a steep learning curve that can be mastered over time. Adequate relative sizing of the anterior and posterior capsulorhexis is important. Caution is advised when using this technique in infants and in cases with posterior capsular defects.

Long-term outcomes of single monocular resection-recession in adult sensory strabismus and factors affecting the postoperative drift.

Purpose: The purpose of our study was to analyze the clinical characteristics and outcome of horizontal strabismus surgery in patients having sensory strabismus and to analyze the factors that affect the postoperative drift in these patients over a follow-up of three years. Methods: This was a retrospective case series. Patients aged ≥18 years, having low vision (visual acuity ≤20/60) in one eye, and undergoing horizontal strabismus surgery (standard recess-resect procedures) in the same eye were recruited. All patients were advised patching of the good eye six weeks prior and continued for six weeks post strabismus surgery. We excluded patients who had paralytic disorders, motility defects, or those with chronic systemic conditions. Patients with a minimum follow-up of three years were recruited. Results: The study included 56 patients whose mean age was 22.9 ± 4.93 years. Exotropia (n = 38; 67.8%) was more common than esotropia (n = 18; 32.1%). Preoperative visual acuity was 1.1 ± 0.85 (range perception of light to 6/18p). The cause of low vision was amblyopia (n = 30; 53.5%) followed by trauma (n = 22; 39.2%). The mean preoperative distance deviation was 57.7 ± 15.5 PD in the primary position (range: 20-65 PD). The success rate of exotropia (78.9%) was more than esotropia (52.9%) at three years. Two patients with esotropia were overcorrected. All patients with exotropia showed an exotropic drift with time. Conclusion: The motor alignment after a single recession-resection procedure was satisfactory at the long-term in our cohort of sensory strabismus. The duration or extent of visual impairment had no relation to the postoperative outcome.

Posterior optic capture of intraocular lens in difficult cases of pediatric cataract.

We describe the technique of posterior optic capture without anterior vitrectomy in two difficult cases of pediatric cataract. We demonstrate how a three-piece foldable intraocular lens can be maneuvered behind the posterior capsule after an improvised posterior capsulotomy. This technique provided excellent intraocular lens (IOL) stability with the absence of lens epithelial cell proliferation in infants with altered posterior capsule morphology.

Intracameral anesthetic mydriatic (ICAM) assisted pediatric cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and safety of intracameral mydriatic and anesthetic combination for pupillary dilation in pediatric cataract surgery. METHODS: This prospective series included children <12 years, with visually significant unilateral or bilateral cataracts planned for cataract surgery with/without intraocular lens implantation. At the beginning of surgery, 0.025 ml of a combination of phenylephrine hydrochloride (0.31%), tropicamide (0.02%), and lidocaine hydrochloride (1%) was injected intracamerally. The efficacy of the combination was tested by achieving capsulorhexis and intraocular lens implantation without additional mydriatics. RESULTS: We recruited 13 patients (16 eyes) with a mean age of 4.1 ± 3.9 years. The mean pupillary diameter changed increased from 1.92 to 5.68 mm after injection of one unit (0.025 ml) of drug (p < 0.0001). There was a strong positive correlation of the pupillary dilation with axial length (R = 0.86) and horizontal corneal diameter (R = 0.81). Seventy-five percent patients had a pupillary diameter >6 mm and surgery could be completed successfully in all cases without additional mydriatics. In all cases, pupil dilated as the surgery progressed. No adverse event to the drug was noted. CONCLUSIONS: Intracameral mydriatic-anesthetic combination is an effective and safe way to obtain stable mydriasis in pediatric cataract surgery.

Pediatric cataract surgery practices in the COVID-19 era: Perspectives of a tertiary care institute in Northern India.

PURPOSE: To discuss the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the pediatric cataract surgery services in a tertiary care institute in India, as well as the protocol followed for these surgeries. METHODS: COVID-19 has hampered outpatient and elective services and surgeries throughout the world. During the national lockdown imposed in March in India, outpatient services were suspended in our institute, leading to a tremendous backlog of pediatric patients with cataract. Since the delay in surgery in pediatric cataract can cause amblyopia, our institute had resumed pediatric cataract surgeries in June 2020 at the time of Unlock-1 in the country. RESULTS: We have discussed the percentage of reduction in pediatric cataract surgeries in 2020 during the Unlock 1, 2, 3, and 4, as compared to the number of surgeries done by the pediatric ophthalmology unit in the same months last year. We had introduced triage and telemedicine in our department. We have discussed the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative protocol followed in our institute for children with pediatric cataract, and also the measures which can be taken for the safety of patients and staff. CONCLUSION: It is essential to ensure COVID-19 protocol, i.e., wearing a mask, social distancing, and frequent hand hygiene, among the patients and health care personnel. Redesigning pediatric cataract surgery practices is essential to ensure the safety of the health care workers and the patients.

Comparison of the swept-source anterior segment optical coherence tomography and wide-field ultrasound biomicroscopy for imaging previously operated horizontal extraocular muscles.

PURPOSE: To assess the feasibility and accuracy of determining extraocular muscle insertion distance from the limbus of previously operated extraocular muscles with the swept-source anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) compared with wide-field ultrasound biomicroscope (UBM). METHODS: Patients with a history of previous strabismus surgery for whom additional strabismus surgery was planned were enrolled. The insertion distance was measured by AS-OCT and UBM before reoperation and compared to the caliper measurement at the time of surgery. Observers taking measurements were masked to patient data. Patient comfort for both machines was graded on a scale of 1-10 and timing of both imaging procedures was recorded. RESULTS: Thirteen previously operated muscles of 6 subjects (age 20.3 ± 4.4 years; range, 11-25) were imaged. The muscle insertion could be identified in 12 cases on AS-OCT and 10 cases on UBM. The difference between the imaging result and the caliper reading was ≤1 mm in 9 cases on AS-OCT and 5 cases on the UBM (69% vs 38%; P = 0.03). The maximum insertion distance on AS-OCT was 13.8 mm; on UBM, 10.4 mm. AS-OCT had a higher grade than UBM for patient comfort (P = 0.0005) and speed (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort, AS-OCT identified the muscle insertion distance more accurately than UBM. AS-OCT measurements were judged more comfortable to the patient, and images were acquired faster. In large recessions, wide-field UBM yields suboptimal results compared with AS-OCT.