Epidemiology and intermediate-term outcomes of open- and closed-globe injuries in traumatic childhood cataract.

Objective: To study epidemiology and intermediate-term outcomes of open- and closed-globe injuries (CGI) in traumatic childhood cataract.

Methods: In this retrospective interventional case series, demographic parameters and history including type of injury of 57 children younger than 16 years with traumatic cataract were recorded; ocular examination included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit-lamp biomicroscopy, and posterior segment evaluation. Patients underwent cataract surgery with or without intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Main surgical outcomes at 6 months comprised BCVA, residual refractive spherical error (SE), and postoperative complications, namely visual axis opacification (VAO) and amblyopia.

Results: Bow and arrow was the most common causal agent. Open-globe injury (OGI) was 3 times more frequent than CGI. There was a significant visual gain from baseline in both groups after cataract surgery (p<0.001); residual SE was greater in OGI (1.6 ± 0.95 SD) compared to blunt trauma (0.8 ± 0.55 SD; p = 0.001). Incidence of corneal scarring, iris distortion, posterior synechiae, and intraoperative posterior capsular tear was greater with OGI (p<0.05). A total of 86% of patients were rehabilitated with a primary/secondary IOL. Single-piece IOL implantation rate (p = 0.004) was significantly greater in CGI, with no statistical difference for in-the-bag IOL (p = 0.053) and IOL implantation rate (p = 0.16). Final BCVA was significantly better for in-the-bag IOL implantation compared to sulcus fixation. Postoperative complications included amblyopia (51%) and VAO (12%).

Conclusions: Bow and arrow injury caused the maximum cases of traumatic cataract; cataract extraction resulted in significant visual improvement; and CGI tended to have better prognosis in pediatric traumatic cataracts.