Comparison of outcomes after early congenital cataract surgery in eyes with/without microcornea

To find out intraoperative and postoperative outcomes of congenital cataract surgery in eyes with microcornea.

This retrospective consecutive case series study compared outcomes after congenital cataract surgery in eyes with/without microcornea. Infants (<1 year old) who underwent lensectomy surgery left aphakic were included. Microphthalmos was defined as an eye that has a horizontal corneal diameter less than or equal to 9.0 mm.

There were 40 infants (54 eyes) in the microcornea group and 58 (87 eyes) in the control group. The two groups were age- and sex-matched. The microcornea group showed significantly smaller corneal diameter (P<0.001), steeper corneal keratometry (P=0.001), thinner lens thickness (P<0.001), and shorter axial length (AL, P<0.001). And microcornea increased the incidence of poor pupil dilation (P<0.01). The two groups showed no significant differences in postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), best-corrected visual acuity, central corneal thickness (CCT), AL, and the incidence of strabismus and nystagmus at the last follow-up.

Although microcornea have different features from normal ones, the one-year follow-up after surgery has shown that early surgical intervention for congenital cataracts in eyes with microcornea can result in favourable outcomes with an acceptable rate of postoperative complications. Regular follow-up and timely management of postoperative complications are crucial for successful outcomes.