Purpose: We report the occurrence of unilateral progressive axial myopia ipsilaterally in a retrospective analysis of 12 children following uniocular cataract surgery.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of the case records of children who had developed progressive ipsilateral axial myopia following unilateral cataract surgery was done. Follow-up ranged from 4 years to 14 years.
Results: Twelve children, 7 male and 5 female, were eligible for the study. Mean age at the time of cataract surgery was 6.7 +/- 2.5 years (range, 4-11 years) and follow-up period was 7.8 +/- 3.1 years (range, 4-14 years). Ten children (83.3%) had traumatic cataracts of which 8 had undergone repair of penetrating eye injuries and 2 had suffered blunt trauma. Two patients (16.7%)had been operated for unilateral developmental cataracts. Three children had aphakia and nine had pseudophakia. Degree of myopic shift ranged from -4.75 D to -15 D (mean, -7.35 +/- 3.51 D). Axial length difference between the 2 eyes ranged from 1 mm to 3.5 mm (mean, 2.2 +/- 0.9 mm). Mean increase of axial length from preoperative recording to final follow-up was 2.53 +/- 0.90 mm (range, 1.6-4 mm). Three children had to undergo IOL explantation and 1 had posterior chamber intraocular lens exchange due to high unilateral myopia. The rest were visually rehabilitated with either spectacles or contact lenses.
Conclusion: Following cataract surgery pediatric eyes may suffer from progressive axial myopia. Trauma or multiple ocular surgeries may be predisposing factors.