# Long-term results of in-the-bag primary intraocular lens implantation in children younger than 24 months

## TL;DR

This study shows that implanting intraocular lenses in young children is safe and has low complication rates over the long term.

## Contribution

The study provides long-term safety data for intraocular lens implantation in children under 24 months.

## Key findings

- Patients showed improved visual acuity with low rates of adverse events.
- The highest myopic shift occurred in infants who had surgery at 5-6 months.
- Complications like visual axis opacification and corectopia were most common.

## Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the safety of primary intraocular
lens implantation in a large number of eyes in children aged <24
months.

The medical records of patients aged 5-24 months, who underwent primary
intraocular lens implantation in the capsular bag, were reviewed. A foldable
three-piece acrylic intraocular lens was implanted by the same surgeon using
a single surgical technique. Patients who had <1 year of follow-up after
the surgery were excluded. The main outcome measurements included visual
acuity, myopic shift, follow-up complications, and additional surgeries.

Sixty-eight patients (93 eyes) were analyzed. The mean age of the patients at
the time of surgery was 15.06 ± 6.19 months (range: 5-24 months), and
the spherical equivalent 1 month after surgery was 3.62 ± 2.32 D.
After 5.67 ± 3.10 years, the spherical equivalent was -0.09 ±
3.22 D, and the corrected distance visual acuity was 0.33 ± 0.33 and
0.64 ± 0.43 logMAR in bilateral and unilateral cases, respectively
(p=0.000). The highest myopic shift was observed in infants who underwent
surgery at ages 5 and 6 months. The most frequent complications included
visual axis opacification and corectopia. Glaucoma and retinal detachment
were not reported.

Primary in-the-bag intraocular lens implantation in children aged 5-24 months
is safe, and is associated with low rates of adverse events and additional
surgery.