AUTHOR=Lin Duoru , Zhu Qiaolin , Zhang Shuyi , Zhou Fengqi , Zhao Lanqin , Wang Qiwei , Chen Wan , Chen Hui , Lin Xiaoshan , Feng Huanling , Zhong Qiuping , Chen Jingjing , Lin Zhuoling , Li Xiaoyan , Xiao Wei , Zhou Yue , Wang Jinghui , Li Jing , Chen Weirong 

TITLE=Postoperative myopic shift and visual acuity rehabilitation in patients with bilateral congenital cataracts

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1406287

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2024.1406287

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=Background: To explore the postoperative myopic shift and its relation with visual acuity rehabilitation in patients with bilateral congenital cataracts (CCs).
Methods: Bilateral CC patients who underwent cataract extraction and primary intraocular lens implantations before six years old were included and divided into five groups according to surgical ages (<2, 2-3, 3-4, 4-5, and 5-6 years). The postoperative myopic shift rates, spherical equivalents (SEs), and the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were measured and analyzed.
Results: A total of 1137 refractive measurements of 234 patients were included with a mean followup period of 34 months. The post-operative mean SEs at each follow-up in the five groups were linearly fitted with mean R 2 =0.93±0.03, which showed a downtrend of SE with age (linear regression). Among patients with a follow-up of 4 years, the mean postoperative myopic shift rate was 0.84, 0.81, 0.68, 0.24, and 0.28 diopters per year (D/y) in the five group patients (from young to old), respectively. The BCVA of those with surgical age of <2 years at the 4 year visit was 0.26 (LogMAR), and the mean postoperative myopic shift rate was 0.84 D/y. For patients with surgical age of 2-6 years, a poorer BCVA at the 4 year visit was found in those with higher postoperative myopic shift rates (r=0.974, p=0.026, Pearson correlation test).
Conclusions: Performing cataract surgery for patients before 2 years old and decreasing the postoperative myopic shift rates for those with surgical age of 2-6 years may benefit visual acuity rehabilitation.