# Postoperative complications of pediatric cataract surgery and their comparison between limbal and pars plana approaches: a meta-analysis

## TL;DR

This study compares two surgical approaches for pediatric cataract surgery and finds no significant difference in complication rates or visual outcomes.

## Contribution

A meta-analysis comparing complication rates of limbal and pars plana approaches in pediatric cataract surgery.

## Key findings

- No significant differences in complication rates between limbal and pars plana approaches.
- Both approaches showed low complication rates and improved visual acuity postoperatively.

## Abstract

To compare the incidence rates of complications following pediatric cataract
surgery between the limbal and pars plana approaches.

PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and
ClinicaITriaIs.gov were systematically searched for studies comparing the
two surgical approaches. We pooled the incidence rates of postoperative
complications using a random-effects model.

Seven studies comprising 375 eyes from 260 patients were included. No
significant differences in complication rates were observed between the
limbal and pars plana approaches. The pooled incidence rates (95% confidence
Interval) of postoperative visual axis opacity (VAO), VAO treated with laser
or surgery, secondary glaucoma, wound leakage, corneal edema, anterior
chamber reaction, posterior iris synechiae, capsular phimosis, intraocular
lens dislocation, posterior capsular rupture, and intravitreal lens
fragmentation were 4.7% (0.8%-10.8%), 3.9% (1.0%-8.1%) , 2.8% (0%-11.4%), 0
(0%-1.3%), 2.9% (0%-11.8%), 5.6% (0.1%-16.5%), 2.4% (0%-8.5%), 3.8%
(0.6%-8.9%), 2.2% (0%-6.4%), 9.2% (4.1%-15.8%) and 1.3% (0%-6.3%),
respectively. Both surgical approaches demonstrated improved visual acuity
postoperatively.

Pediatric cataract surgery, performed via the limbal or pars plana approach,
is effective and safe, with a low incidence of complications when conducted
by trained surgeons. Neither method demonstrated a significant difference in
the visual acuity improvement or complication rates.