Management of cataracts in infancy and childhood

Abstract

In recent years there has been a considerable improvement in our understanding of the mechanism of stimulus deprivation amblyopia and a continuous development of better surgical techniques for the removal of cataracts in very young patients. In spite of these advances and the fact that modern constant wear soft contact lenses are now a reliable proposition, there has not been a parallel improvement in the visual results achieved after cataract extraction and aphakia continues to present considerable problems of management in children. This study analyses over 100 cases treated at Moorfields Eye Hospital in recent years. As a result of our findings a Paediatric Aphakia Service has been established in order to integrate the surgical, contact lens, and orthoptic care of these patients.