Refractive status in children after long-term follow up of cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation

Purpose: To evaluate the resultant refractive status in children 5 to 11 years after cataract surgery with a high power intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Methods: Charts of eight patients (10 eyes) who underwent cataract surgery with IOL implantation by the same technique were reviewed. Age at surgery was 2 months to 3 years. High-power IOL of 27.0 to 30.0 diopters (D) was implanted in seven eyes and lower IOL (between 19.0 D to 23.0 D) in three eyes. Follow-up period was between 5 and 11 years. Results: In children who received a high-power IOL, the resultant refraction after 5 to 7 years was found to be between -5.50 and -12.00 D. In the group that had a lower power IOL implanted, the refraction was between -2.50 and +9.00 after 6 to 11 years. The results were plotted on a graph of refraction vs. IOL power and showed that the IOL power that may result in emmetropia in an older child is 23.2D. Conclusions: The implantation of a high-power IOL (27 D to 30 D) in eight young children resulted in refractive status within 3 D of emmetropia during the first year or two of life and in high myopia at age 5 to 12 years.