Capsular opacification after vitreous-sparing cataract surgery in children.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate different methods of intraocular lens (IOL) implantation and posterior capsule management in the absence of vitrectomy with respect to visual axis opacification (VAO) in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-three eyes of African children undergoing cataract extraction and IOL implantation between 1998 and 2001 were evaluated. In all eyes, the IOL haptics were placed in the bag and the vitreous was preserved. The IOL optic and posterior capsule were managed in the following 3 ways: The IOL optic was captured behind the posterior capsule in conjunction with posterior capsulotomy (PC) in 47 eyes (group 1). The IOL optic was implanted in the bag with PC in 14 eyes (group 2) and without PC in 12 eyes (group 3). Cox proportional hazard analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were performed to evaluate the incidence of Elschnig pearls (EP) and VAO. RESULTS: Elschnig pearls developed in 14.9 % of the patients in group 1, in 56.8 % in group 2 and in 91.7 % in group 3. The occurrence of EP depended significantly on optic capture (p < 0.001) and child’s age (p < 0.05), but not on PC (p = 0.084) and eye side (p = 0.1). The persistence of visual axis clarity depended significantly on optic capture (p < 0.001) but not on PC. CONCLUSIONS: In vitreous-sparing cataract surgery, posterior capsule opening does not effectively prevent VAO unless it is in conjunction with IOL optic capture.