Ocular axial growth in pseudophakic eyes of patients operated for monocular infantile cataract: a comparison of operated and fellow eyes measured at surgery and 5 or more years later

PurposeTo report the change in axial length (AL) over time and to compare the percentage of AL growth of pseudophakic eyes operated on for monocular cataract to that of the unoperated fellow eyes.MethodsThe medical records of children operated on by a single surgeon for monocular congenital cataract before 7 months of age were retrospectively reviewed. Inclusion criteria were corneal diameter of ≥9 mm and availability of AL data for >5 years’ follow-up after cataract surgery and >1 year after IOL implantation (in case of secondary IOL). Cataract with persistent fetal vasculature causing stretching of the ciliary processes, diagnosis of glaucoma or glaucoma suspect, and eyes with aphakia were excluded. Globe AL was measured by immersion ultrasound at surgery and 5 or more years later.ResultsA total of 24 children were identified. Average age at cataract surgery was 2.6 ± 2.1 months. Age at last follow-up was 8.4 ± 2.8 years and duration of follow-up was 8.2 ± 2.8 years. 13 eyes received a primary IOL and 11 eyes received a secondary IOL. AL was significantly different between operative and fellow eyes, preoperatively (18.1 mm vs 18.7 mm, P = 0.004), and at the final follow-up (22.2 mm vs 23.0 mm, P = 0.03). Differences in AL growth of operated and fellow eyes were not significant (4.1 mm vs 4.4 mm, P = 0.4). Similarly, percentage of AL growth of operated and fellow eyes was also not significantly different (23% vs 23.6%, P = 0.7).ConclusionsEyes operated for monocular cataract have similar axial growth to that of fellow unoperated eyes, despite having a shorter AL at the time of surgery.