Influence of intraocular inflammatory cytokine levels on postoperative complications in congenital cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) accounts for the most significant and most challenging complication after successful cataract surgery in children. Our study aimed to investigate the levels of cytokines in the aqueous humor of children afflicted with congenital cataracts and their association with PCO. METHODS: This was an observational study conducted at a tertiary referral center in India. Consecutive children aged less than 5 years with unilateral/bilateral isolated idiopathic congenital cataracts and planned for cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation were included. During cataract surgery, 100-500 µl of aqueous samples were collected and the levels of inflammatory cytokines were quantified in the aqueous humor. RESULTS: An analysis of 28 samples was done. The mean age of the patients was 16.7 ± 0.4 months (range 3-60 months) with a mean follow-up 14.2 ± 2.3 months. On binary logistic regression, the level of MCP-1 was significantly related to the development of PCO at 1 year (P = 0.0072). Levels of IL-6 and IL-8 were not associated with the development of PCO (P = 0.05 and P = 0.07, respectively). CONCLUSION: Inflammatory markers like IL-6 and IL-8 were raised in children with pediatric cataracts in our study. Chronic high levels of MCP-1-induced fibrosis may be associated with PCO.

Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) in strabismus following trauma.

We describe 3 cases of ocular trauma that presented with strabismus. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography was used to delineate the morphology of extraocular muscle insertions and proved helpful in diagnosis and management.

Cataract surgery in children using intracameral mydriatic.

PURPOSE: To study the pupil dynamics with premixed intracameral anesthetic mydriatic combination of phenylephrine (0.31%), tropicamide (0.02%), and lidocaine (1%) in pediatric cataract surgery. METHODS: Consecutive children aged ≤12 years planned for cataract surgery were recruited. A commercially available premixed combination of phenylephrine (0.31%), tropicamide (0.02%), and lidocaine (1%) was injected at the beginning of surgery without any topical/infusion drugs for mydriasis. Pupil sizes at various points of surgery were studied. RESULTS: We recruited 75 patients with a mean age of 24.3 ± 33.4 months (range: 1 month-11 years). Adequate mydriasis with a single injection was achieved in 93.5% (n = 73 eyes of 70 patients) without additional pharmacotherapy or intervention. The mean pupillary diameter increased from 1.8 ± 0.79 to 6.1 ± 1.4 mm after injection (mean change of 4.2 ± 1.25 mm from baseline). The mean variability in pupillary diameter was 0.73 ± 1.3 mm. In five eyes, good dilatation was not possible even after repeat injection. CONCLUSION: Fixed-dose premixed intracameral injection is effective in pupil dilatation. It alleviates the need for any topical dilators or additional intraoperative supplementation for pediatric cataract surgery.

Low-dose atropine 0.01% for the treatment of childhood myopia: a pan-India multicentric retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of low-dose atropine 0.01% in controlling myopia progression among Indian children over a 2-year period. METHODS: This retrospective study, conducted across 20 centres in India, monitored the progression of myopia over 2 years after initiating treatment with 0.01% atropine eye drops. This included children between 6 and 14 years with baseline myopia ranging from -0.5 D to -6 D, astigmatism≤-1.5 D, anisometropia ≤ -1 D and documented myopia progression of ≥0.5 D in the year prior to starting atropine. Subjects with any other ocular pathologies were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 732 children were included in the data analysis. The mean age of the subjects was 9.3±2.7 years. The mean myopia progression at baseline (1 year before starting atropine) was -0.75±0.31 D. The rate of myopia progression was higher in younger subjects and those with higher baseline myopic error. After initiating atropine, myopia progression significantly decreased to -0.27±0.14 D at the end of the first year and -0.24±0.15 D at the end of the second year (p<0.001). Younger children (p<0.001) and higher baseline myopia (p<0.001) was associated with greater myopia progression and poor treatment response (p<0.001 for both). CONCLUSION: Low-dose atropine (0.01%) effectively reduces myopia progression over 2 years in Indian children.

Clinical outcomes and Anti-MOG antibodies in pediatric optic neuritis: A prospective observational study.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to look at the clinical outcomes, and to determine the proportion of children with visual recovery after the first demyelinating event of optic neuritis (ON). METHODOLOGY: In this observational study, children with the first clinical event of optic neuritis at an age less than 18 years were evaluated. High-contrast visual acuity, colour vision, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Anti-MOG and AQP-4 antibodies were assessed. RESULTS: Of the 55 screened, 45 children (77 eyes), median age-98 months, 30 (67%) bilateral were enrolled. Fifty of 77 eyes (67%) had Snellen visual acuity less than 6/60. Twelve children (27%) were MOG seropositive and 3 had AQP-4 positivity. At median follow up of 35 months, 10 (22%) children had one or more relapses. At follow up, the median (IQR) visual acuity improved from nadir of 2.1 (1-2.7) logMAR to 0 (0-0.18) logMAR and 64/77 eyes (83%) had visual recovery. The diagnosis at last follow up was isolated ON in 39/45 (86.6%), relapsing ON (5, 11%), AQP-4 positive NMOSD (3, 7%), MOG antibody associated demyelination (12, 27%), dual seronegative ON (30,67%) and Multiple sclerosis (1, 2%). CONCLUSIONS: Most children with first demyelinating event as ON have a monophasic illness. Despite severe acute-phase visual loss, most eyes with ON will recover good visual functions. The risk of AQP-4 disease and multiple sclerosis is low in this group.

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.