Incidence and Outcomes of Eye Trauma Associated with Recreative Use of Non-Powder Toy-Guns: a 12-years retrospective study.

PURPOSE: Non-powder toy-guns (NPTG) are responsible for many ocular traumas. This study aims to detail the outcomes of these injuries, depending on the causative NPTG. DESIGN: Retrospective observational case series. METHODS: Cases of NPTG-associated ocular trauma managed in a Parisian eye emergency department between August 1, 2010, and January 1, 2023, were reviewed. The date of trauma, causative NPTG, patient demographics, initial and follow-up eye examinations, any surgical procedure, and visual outcomes for each ocular trauma were analyzed RESULTS: Over 12 years, NPTG were responsible for 324 eye injuries and 980 visits. Patients were mostly males (77.5%), and mean age at trauma was 16.2 years. Foam bullets or foam darts blasters accounted for 54.9% of traumas and were mainly responsible for corneal injuries and hyphema (30.9% and 27%, respectively). BB-gun/airsoft guns were frequently responsible for anterior segment lesions, as well as intravitreal hemorrhages (14.7%) and commotio retinae (21.1%). Paintball guns accounted for the largest proportion of posterior segment lesions (such as intra- or subretinal hemorrhages leading to macular atrophy/contusion maculopathy), and one-third of casualties had undergone ocular surgery. Among all traumas, final visual acuity was lower than 20/200 in 6.5% of cases. Phthisis occurred in 8 cases: 2 were related to foam bullets or foam darts blaster injuries (1 contusion and 1 rupture), 2 other cases followed a rupture due to BB-guns/airsoft-guns, 1 case occurred after a rupture related to a paintball gunshot, and 3 others were due to other types of compressed air guns (1 rupture, 1 intraocular foreign body and 1 total retinal detachment). CONCLUSION: NPTG-related ocular trauma outcomes differ according to the causative toy. Paintball guns and BB-guns/airsoft guns-related traumas were more likely to be associated with severe lesions, but an increasing number of ocular injuries related to the use of foam bullets or foam darts blasters are reported, in younger and younger children. Public health policies should promote the use of protective eyewear.

Outcomes of Modified Limbal Lensectomy-Vitrectomy in Stages 4B and 5 Retinopathy of Prematurity with Extended Retrolental Fibroplasia.

PURPOSE: To report on the anatomical and functional outcomes of a modified limbal lensectomy-vitrectomy (LV) approach for stages 4B and 5 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) as defined in the International Classification of Retinopathy of Prematurity, 3rd Edition (ICROP 3). DESIGN: Retrospective, monocentric, consecutive case series. PATIENTS: Infants with ROP that underwent limbal LV for diffuse retrolental fibroplasia. METHODS: Clinical charts and Retcam photographs were reviewed. Surgical approach consisted of a limbal LV through peripheral iridectomies with centripetal dissection of the preretinal fibrosis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Anatomical success and visual function at last follow-up were evaluated. Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore potential prognostic factors affecting the anatomical outcome. RESULTS: A total of 128 eyes of 81 patients with a mean gestational age of 28.7 ± 3.0 weeks and a mean birthweight of 1244 ± 429 g were included. Eighteen eyes (14.1%) had a stage 4B, 24 (18.8%) a stage 5B, and 86 a stage 5C (67.2%) ROP. Mean age at surgery was 57.4 ± 36.3 weeks and mean postoperative follow-up was 22.7 ± 20.4 months. Only 5 eyes (3.9%) had prior peripheral retinal ablation. Macular reattachment was achieved in 74 eyes (57.8%). Controlling for other baseline factors, a stage 5C (versus stage 4B, odds ratio [OR] = 6.9 [1.5-32.1], P = 0.01 and versus stage 5B, OR = 7.4 [1.5-37.1], P = 0.02), the presence of vascular activity (OR = 6.4 [2.3-18.1], P < 0.001), and the presence of Schlieren sign (OR = 13.0 [2.1-82.2], P = 0.006) were associated with a failure of macular reattachment. Visual acuity was assessed in 92 eyes (71.9%), among which 59 eyes (64.1%) had light perception or better. CONCLUSIONS: Modified limbal LV resulted in macular reattachment in more than half of eyes with ROP-related retinal detachment and diffuse retrolental fibrosis. A stage 5C based on ICROP 3, the presence of vascular activity, and a Schlieren sign were significantly associated with a failure of macular reattachment. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Management and Outcomes of Posterior Persistent Fetal Vasculature.

PURPOSE: To describe clinical features, management, and outcomes of posterior persistent fetal vasculature (PFV) and suggest a management algorithm. DESIGN: Retrospective, consecutive case series. PARTICIPANTS: All children diagnosed with posterior PFV and treated or followed at the Rothschild Foundation Hospital in France between June 2011 and September 2021. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the clinical characteristics of posterior PFV. We reported age, gender, presenting symptoms, intraocular pressure, and visual acuity (VA) at diagnosis. Patients were divided into 4 groups depending on the severity and involvement or not of anterior segment. We reported the vitreoretinal surgical techniques used. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Anatomic results, ocular hypertension, best-corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA), presence of postoperative adverse events, and additional surgical interventions were recorded at each follow-up visit. RESULTS: Ninety-six patients were included. The median age at diagnosis was 8 months (IQR = 12), mean 18.9 ± 30.9 months) with a mean follow-up of 27 ± 31.2 months. Although PFV is often an isolated disease, it was associated with a systemic disease in 8% of cases. There was anterior involvement in 62 (64%) of eyes. Forty-one eyes (42.7%) were microphthalmic and more frequently associated with severe PFV (53% vs. 25%; P = 0.01). Surgery was performed in 85 patients (89%). Of them, 69 (81%) had a total success, 5 (6%) had a partial success due to persistent limited peripheral retinal detachment (RD), and 11 (13%) had a failure due to persistent total RD after surgery. Postoperative adverse events occured in 38 eyes including ocular hypertension requiring eye drop medication (7.1%), secondary cell proliferation around the intraocular lens (8.2%), intravitreal hemorrhages (7.1%), and persistent tractional RD (10.6%). Second surgery was performed in 18 patients (21%). At last follow-up, VA could be measured in logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution in 43 children (45%), light perception in 21 eyes (22%), and no light perception or impossible to assess in 32 eyes (33%). CONCLUSIONS: In our case series, most patients presenting with posterior PFV received complex vitreoretinal surgery. Goals of the surgery vary and include retinal flattening, reduction of vitreoretinal traction, freeing of visual axis, and aesthetic concerns. We propose a surgical and medical management algorithm for PFV. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

Surgical removal of submacular choroidal neovessels in children: Outcome and literature review.

PURPOSE: To report on the outcome of surgical submacular choroidal neovascular membrane (CNV) removal in children and to perform a comprehensive review of literature concerning this intervention in children. METHODS: In this retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series, we included 8 eyes of 7 consecutive children with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization treated by pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and CNV removal. Main outcome measures were visual acuity and complications. RESULTS: Mean age at surgery was 8.6 ± 5.2 years (range: 2-16). Two out of 8 eyes were idiopathic. Corrected-distance visual acuity (CDVA) improved from 1.01 ± 0.45logMAR (range:0.3-1.5) at presentation to 0.60 ± 0.37 (range:0-1) at last follow-up (p = 0.03). Mean follow-up was 3.9 ± 3.9 years. Six eyes received at least one intravitreal injection of bevacizumab prior to surgery. Recurrence occurred in one eye with Best's disease.Literature review revealed a total of 42 cases with the most frequent etiologies being Presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (POHS) and idiopathic CNV. Considering all cases together, mean CDVA improved from 1.00 ± 0.37logMAR to 0.52 ± 0.42 (p < 0.01). CNV recurrence occurred in 11 eyes (22.0%), 7 of which had an inflammatory etiology. Other complications included pigment epithelium tear, atrophy and retinal tear. CONCLUSION: Surgical removal of CNV is a viable, effective and safe option in children with persistent submacular neovascular membranes.

Prospective cholestanol screening of cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis among patients with juvenile-onset unexplained bilateral cataracts.

BACKGROUND: Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is a rare genetic disorder related to CYP27A1 biallelic mutations, leading to decreased synthesis of bile acids and increased cholestanol. Juvenile bilateral cataracts are one of the most common findings in the disease, frequently occurring before the onset of neurological manifestations. While early treatment with chenodeoxycholic acid can prevent the onset of neurological impairment, poor awareness of CTX accounts for a markedly delayed diagnosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of plasma cholestanol analysis at the moment of cataract diagnosis and before the onset of neurological impairment in CTX. METHODS: Multicenter prospective cohort study of patients with juvenile-onset unexplained bilateral cataracts recruited from seven French ophthalmology departments. Plasma cholestanol analysis was performed at diagnosis from January 2018 to January 2020. CYP27A1 genetic testing was performed at the ophthalmologist's discretion. Cholestanol levels were compared with those of a similar population of patients without cataracts (control cohort). RESULTS: 30 patients were finally recruited, with a mean age at cataract diagnosis of 7.1 years (± 4.8 SD, range 1-19 years). One patient had a very high cholestanol level (68 µmol/L, reference < 10) and carried two pathogenic heterozygous mutations in CYP27A1 confirming CTX. This patient was a 19-year-old female, reporting chronic diarrhea only in childhood, and diagnosed with bilateral posterior cataracts with cortical fleck-like opacities. Therefore, the incidence of CTX in our cohort of patients was 3.3%. Five further patients (5/29; 17.2%) had moderate elevations of cholestanol level (between 10.3 and 16.5 µmol/L), compared to 12/286 (4.2%) in the control cohort (p = 0.014) after adjustment for age. CONCLUSION: Our study argue for the relevance of plasma cholestanol CTX screening in all patients with juvenile-onset unexplained cataracts, even without other CTX identified manifestations. Whether moderate elevations of plasma cholestanol unrelated to CTX may be a risk factor for bilateral cataracts occurrence needs further examination.

Congenital cataract surgery: long-term refractive outcomes of a new intraocular lens power correction formula.

PURPOSE: The final refraction after intraocular lens (IOL) implantation remains a challenge in the management of paediatric cataracts. No consensual guidelines exist for the choice of IOL power. The aim of this study was to validate a method of IOL power calculation by evaluating the final refractive error in all patients with IOL implantation operated at our institution. METHODS: We retrospectively studied all children under 7 years of age who underwent cataract surgery with IOL implantation at our institution between 2010 and 2015. Intraocular lens (IOL) power was calculated as follows: After B-scan determination of the emmetropic IOL power, a reduction of 40%, 35%, 30%, 25%, 20%, 15%, 10% and 5% was applied to children 0-3, 3-6, 6-12, 12-18, 18-24, 24-30, 30-36, 36-48 months, respectively. The following data were collected: follow-up, age at surgery, uni- or bilaterality, implanted IOL power and final refraction. RESULTS: During this period, 81 children (125 eyes) met the inclusion criteria with a median follow-up of 60 months (36-97). The median age at surgery was 6.61 months (0.76-48). We included 52 children with bilateral cataract (96 eyes) and 29 children with unilateral cataract (29 eyes). The mean implanted IOL power was 23.3 ± 4.6 diopters (D). The mean spherical equivalent at last follow-up was 0.07 ± 3.5 D. CONCLUSION: Our undercorrection formula for IOL implantation after congenital cataract surgery leads to long-term refractive results globally close to emmetropia.

Evaluation and modification of French screening guidelines for retinopathy of prematurity.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the current French screening guidelines for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and to suggest modifications to it. METHODS: In this multicentric retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series we included infants with a gestational age (GA) ≤32 weeks who were screened for ROP by fundus examination between 2011 and 2018. Main Outcome Measures were the presence of ROP and the need for treatment. RESULTS: A total of 2246 children with a mean GA of 28.9 ± 2.0 weeks and mean birth weight (BW) of 1141.1 ± 332.0 g were screened. Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) was found in 683 infants (30.4%), of whom 145 (6.5%) had type 2 ROP and 58 (2.6%) had type 1 ROP. Mean GA of infants with type 1 ROP needing treatment was 25.9 + 1.5 weeks (range: 23.6-30) and mean BW was 774.1 ± 173.7 g (range: 540-1400). Both GA and BW had an impact on the development of type 1 and 2 ROP. None of the infants needing treatment had a GA of 31 weeks or more. None of the children needed treatment before 33 weeks of postmenstrual age (PMA) or 6 weeks of postnatal age (PNA). CONCLUSION: It seems possible to decrease the screening of premature infants to ≤31 weeks of GA and to start screening at 31 weeks PMA for infants having a GA < 26 weeks and at 6 weeks PNA for more mature children.

Immunomodulatory treatment and surgical management of idiopathic uveitis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis in children: a French survey practice.

BACKGROUND: Surgeries for idiopathic uveitis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis in children are complex because of the high risk of inflammatory postoperative complications. There is no consensus about treatment adaptation during the perioperative period. The objectives of this study are to report the therapeutic changes made in France and to determine whether maintaining or stopping immunosuppressive therapies is associated with an increased risk of surgical site infection or an increased risk of uveitis or arthritis flare-up. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2018 in six large University Hospitals in France. Inclusion criteria were chronic idiopathic uveitis or chronic uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis under immunosuppressive therapies at the time of the surgical procedure, operated before the age of 16. Data on perioperative treatments, inflammatory relapses and post-operative infections were collected. RESULTS: A total of 76 surgeries (42% cataract surgeries, 30% glaucoma surgeries and 16% posterior capsule opacification surgeries) were performed on 37 children. Adaptation protocols were different in the six hospitals. Immunosuppressive therapies were discontinued in five cases (7%) before surgery. All the children in the discontinuation group had an inflammatory relapse within 3 months after surgery compared to only 25% in the other group. There were no postoperative infections. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show varying practices between centres. The benefit-risk balance seems to favour maintaining immunosuppressive therapies during surgery. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal perioperative treatments required to limit post-operative inflammatory relapses.

Pediatric endophthalmitis: clinical profile, outcomes, and a proposed protocol.

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical profile and visual outcomes of infectious endophthalmitis in children at a single tertiary hospital in France, and propose an evidence-based protocol for management. METHODS: This is a retrospective monocentric study that involved children with a history of endophthalmitis between January 2008 and January 2020. The clinical characteristics, etiology, microbiological spectrum from aqueous/vitreous tab, anatomical and visual outcomes, and management were analyzed. The Fischer and chi-square tests were used in the statistical evaluation. RESULTS: Twenty-six children were eligible for inclusion. The mean patients age at presentation was 4.2 years (range, 8 days-14.3 years). With regard to etiology, patients were divided into posttraumatic group (n = 7 (26.9%)), postoperative group (n = 15 (57.7%)), endogenous group (n = 3 (11.5%)), and infectious corneal ulcer group (n = 1 (3.9%)). Time-to-onset of symptoms was highest in children ≤ 3 years old and in the postoperative subgroup who had at least one glaucoma procedure. Microbiology results showed growth in 12/26 (46.2%). The most common microorganism identified was Streptococcus pneumoniae (5/12 (41.7%)). The antibiotic regimen varied depending on age, organism, and sensitivities. The final visual outcomes were 20/200 or better in 11/26 (42.3%) eyes, and 13/26 (50.0%) eyes had no light perception. Twelve of twenty-six (46.2%) eyes ended up with phthisis bulbi. CONCLUSION: Pediatric endophthalmitis is a rare but devastating condition with poor visual prognosis, requiring prompt recognition and treatment. Despite aggressive management with antibiotics and vitrectomy, the visual prognosis is generally poor. A protocol for management with an adapted systemic antibiotic therapy is proposed in order to improve outcomes.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Glaucoma Following Pediatric Cataract Surgery With Primary Implantation.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence and risk factors for glaucoma after pediatric cataract surgery with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. DESIGN: Retrospective, consecutive case series. METHODS: In this single-center study, we reviewed 136 children (199 eyes) who underwent pediatric cataract surgery before 1 year of age with a minimum of 1 year of follow-up. The intervention used was pediatric cataract surgery with IOL implantation, and the primary outcome measure was the presence or absence of secondary glaucoma. RESULTS: The mean age at surgery was 148 ± 93 days (range 30-359 days) with a mean follow-up of 6.3 ± 3.6 years (range 1.1-12.8 years). Glaucoma developed in 31 eyes (16%) with 5- and 10-year incidence rates of 12% and 28%, respectively. The incidence of glaucoma seemed to be bimodal, with a first peak occurring after a mean delay of 2.5 months (range 1.6-4.1 months) and a second peak occurring after a mean delay of 5.7 years (range 2.6-11.7 years). Younger age at surgery, shorter axial length, longer follow-up, use of trypan blue, reintervention, and bilateral surgery were associatied with a higher incidence of glaucoma. Multivariate analysis including the aforementioned variables indentified longer follow-up (odds ratio [OR] = 1.3 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.1-1.6], P = .001), reintervention (OR = 4.1 [95% CI 1.2-13.4], P = 0.02), and the use of trypan blue (OR = 4.1 [95% CI 1.3-13.1], P = .02) as predictors for the development of glaucoma. CONCLUSION: Glaucoma is a common complication after pediatric cataract surgery. It seemed to have a bimodal incidence. Risk factors for glaucoma development were reintervention, the use of trypan blue, and a long follow-up.

Outcome and risk factors of vitreoretinal surgery in pediatric patients with familial exudative vitreoretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome for vitreoretinal surgery in children with familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) and to evaluate the risk factors associated with failure. METHODS: This is a retrospective interventional case series of 43 consecutive eyes (34 patients) with vitreoretinal surgery for FEVR. Ocular status prior to intervention and at last follow-up and all surgical steps were recorded. Follow-up time was at least 6 months. Main outcome measure was surgical failure (defined as one of the following: (1) deterioration of visual acuity and stage, (2) persistence or development of total retinal detachment, (3) phthisis). RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 3.3 ± 3.4 years (median 2.3; 0.5-15.7 years), surgery was successful in 30 eyes (70%) and failed in 13 eyes (30%). Twenty-one eyes (49%) improved, 13 (30%) remained stable, and 9 (21%) deteriorated. Postoperatively, stages and VA improved significantly (p = 0.001; p = 0.04, respectively). Surgical failure was only observed on patients with stages 4 and 5. Mean macular thickness decreased significantly in eyes (stages 2 and 3) with tractional epiretinal membrane. CONCLUSION: Eyes with tractional epiretinal membrane in stages 2 and 3 seem to benefit from vitrectomy and membrane peeling with a positive risk-benefit profile. Advanced stages have a low success rate and limited functional improvement, but in selected cases, surgery seems beneficial.

Stromal Keratitis After Varicella in Children.

PURPOSE: We describe here a case series of patients with stromal keratitis of chronic course, a potential manifestation after chickenpox in children. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of 8 eyes (7 children) with stromal keratitis after varicella seen in our referral cornea center. All patients received a systemic antiviral treatment with oral acyclovir and topical steroid eye drops. Topical cyclosporine eye drops were associated with steroids in case of steroid dependence or steroid-related side effects. Both antiinflammatory treatments were slowly tapered over time. RESULTS: Median age at diagnosis was 3 years and 4 months. Stromal keratitis was unilateral in 6 children (85.7%) and consisted of superficial nummular keratitis in 4 cases and deep stromal diffuse keratitis in 3 cases. During the median follow-up of 31 months (range, 13-59 months), 6 children had 1 to 6 episodes of relapse. The median duration of topical steroid eye drop was 26 months (range, 2-59 months). Topical cyclosporine eye drops were used with steroids in 3 patients (42.9%). Three patients stopped topical steroids after 2, 5, and 8 months, without recurrence. Four patients were still undergoing treatment after a median of 43 months (range, 26-59 months). All patients regained a best-corrected visual acuity of 20/20 at the end of the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Stromal keratitis after varicella is an entity with a potential chronic course lasting 3 months or more. Steroid dependence and relapses during tapering are 2 major challenges for the management.

Ocular Spiroplasma ixodetis in Newborns, France.

Cataract and uveitis are rare in newborns but potentially blinding. Three newborns with cataract and severe anterior uveitis underwent cataract surgery. Spiroplasma ixodetis was detected in lens aspirates using bacterial 16S-rRNA PCR and transmission electron microscopy. These findings, which suggest maternal-fetal infection, are consistent with previous experimental Spiroplasma-induced cataract and uveitis.

New GJA8 variants and phenotypes highlight its critical role in a broad spectrum of eye anomalies.

GJA8 encodes connexin 50 (Cx50), a transmembrane protein involved in the formation of lens gap junctions. GJA8 mutations have been linked to early onset cataracts in humans and animal models. In mice, missense mutations and homozygous Gja8 deletions lead to smaller lenses and microphthalmia in addition to cataract, suggesting that Gja8 may play a role in both lens development and ocular growth. Following screening of GJA8 in a cohort of 426 individuals with severe congenital eye anomalies, primarily anophthalmia, microphthalmia and coloboma, we identified four known [p.(Thr39Arg), p.(Trp45Leu), p.(Asp51Asn), and p.(Gly94Arg)] and two novel [p.(Phe70Leu) and p.(Val97Gly)] likely pathogenic variants in seven families. Five of these co-segregated with cataracts and microphthalmia, whereas the variant p.(Gly94Arg) was identified in an individual with congenital aphakia, sclerocornea, microphthalmia and coloboma. Four missense variants of unknown or unlikely clinical significance were also identified. Furthermore, the screening of GJA8 structural variants in a subgroup of 188 individuals identified heterozygous 1q21 microdeletions in five families with coloboma and other ocular and/or extraocular findings. However, the exact genotype-phenotype correlation of these structural variants remains to be established. Our data expand the spectrum of GJA8 variants and associated phenotypes, confirming the importance of this gene in early eye development.

Cataract Surgery with Primary Lens Implantation in Children with Chronic Uveitis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the evolution of chronic uveitis in children undergoing cataract surgery with primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. METHODS: Twelve children with chronic uveitis underwent cataract surgery with primary posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. RESULTS: Fourteen eyes were implanted with a foldable hydrophobic acrylic IOL. The mean follow-up was 35.39 months (8.72-69.57). The mean BCDVA before surgery and at the end of follow-up was 1.11 (0.40-2.30; SD: 0.57) and 0.48 (0-3; SD: 0.77; p=0.007) respectively. The mean oral corticosteroids dosage after surgery and at the end of follow-up was 0.80 mg/kg/day (SD: 0.37) and 0.17 mg/kg/day (SD: 0.24; p=0.001) respectively. All patients except one were treated with methotrexate. Four patients (5 eyes) were additionally treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor agent. CONCLUSIONS: Cataract surgery with primary posterior chamber hydrophobic IOL implantation is possible and leads to a good visual recovery in cases of pediatric chronic uveitis. This surgery requires aggressive anti-inflammatory management with immunosuppressive drugs to control inflammation and reduce the corticosteroids dosage.

Pseudo-accommodation in non-amblyopic children after bilateral cataract surgery and implantation with a monofocal intraocular lens: prevalence and possible mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Some pseudophakic patients implanted with a monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) have good near visual acuity (VA) with their distance correction. The objective was to evaluate the prevalence of pseudo-accommodation in children after bilateral cataract surgery, without amblyopia, and to define its mechanisms. METHODS: Observational study that took place in a pediatric ophthalmology department, Paris, France. A total of 68 eyes were included, 40 from 23 children and 28 from 14 adults, with a corrected distance VA above 20/25 and a normal near VA (20/25) with +3 addition. Pseudo-accommodation was defined as a near VA better than 20/50 with the distance correction and without addition. Prevalence of pseudo-accommodation was calculated in each group. In order to determine the possible mechanisms of pseudo-accommodation in children, we compared children with pseudo-accommodation and adults without pseudo-accommodation regarding several parameters: refraction, axial length, corneal topography, aberrometry, pupillary diameter and IOL shift after cyclopentolate instillation. RESULTS: Among the children group, 36 (90 %) had pseudo-accommodation versus 2 (7 %) in the adult group. We found that spherical equivalent, implant power, corneal multifocality and corneal higher-order aberrations (mainly coma and trefoil) were significantly higher in the pseudo-accommodation group, while pupil diameter and implant shift were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: Pseudo-accommodation has a high prevalence among non-amblyopic pseudophakic children. Several possible mechanisms have been found to explain pseudo-accommodation in children: a high power of the IOL and a small axial length, maximizing the effect of the IOL shift, corneal multifocality and corneal higher-order aberrations.

LONG-TERM OUTCOME OF EPIRETINAL MEMBRANE SURGERY IN YOUNG CHILDREN.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical characteristics of epiretinal membranes (ERMs) secondary to nonprogressive diseases in very young children and to assess their surgical outcome. METHODS: Retrospective interventional case series study of 13 pediatric patients (aged less than 12 years) operated on for ERM more than a 6-year period. Visual acuity measurement, ophthalmic examination, and optical coherence tomography imaging were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS: Mean age was 6.5 years (3-12 years). Mean follow-up duration was of 28.5 months (12-69 months). Among the 13 patients, there were 7 cases of idiopathic ERM, 4 cases of combined hamartoma of the retina and retinal pigment epithelium, and 2 cases of posttraumatic ERM. The diagnosis of ERM was fortuitous in 10 cases (77%). Twelve children (92%) experienced a functional improvement. All patients received adjuvant treatment of amblyopia. Best-corrected visual acuity improved significantly after surgery from 20/160 to 20/40 (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Even in very young children, surgery resulted in a significant long-term improvement. Children screening was essential for diagnosis and treatment in most cases.

Ectopia lentis associated with primary congenital glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To describe 3 cases of ectopia lentis (EL) associated with primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) and differentiate between primary and secondary EL regarding pathogenesis. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical charts of 3 children previously diagnosed with congenital glaucoma who developed secondary EL. The following points were noted: medical and surgical history, refraction, keratometry, corneal diameter, axial length (AL), intraocular pressure, and cup/disc ratio. RESULTS: The 3 patients were respectively aged 12, 3, and 4 months. A trabeculectomy was performed in both eyes at 1-week interval in all cases. The EL was noted during follow-up controls. Lensectomy/vitrectomy was performed in 2 patients, in case of high astigmatism (>5.00 D) and/or the lens border visible in the pupillary area. Postoperative refraction was hyperopic. CONCLUSIONS: Ectopia lentis secondary to PCG should be differentiated from primary EL regarding pathogenesis. Anterior segment distension appears to be the principal mechanism in these cases. Postoperative hyperopia is observed despite the increased AL secondary to PCG. These biometric results are due to global distension of the globe, which also flattens the cornea with consequently lower refractive effect.