Visual Outcome Following the Reduction or Cessation of Patching Therapy After Early Unilateral Cataract Surgery

• Authors: Scott R Lambert, Emory University; David A. Plager, Indiana University Medical Center; Michael Lynn, Emory University; M. Edward Wilson, Storm Eye Institute
• Journal Title: JAMA Ophthalmology
• Volume: Volume 126, Number 8
• Publisher: American Medical Association (AMA) | 2008-08-11, Pages 1071-1074
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1001/archopht.126.8.1071
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Opthamology; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Biology, Biostatistics

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the impact on visual acuity of reducing or abandoning patching therapy during the first six years of life after early unilateral cataract surgery. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of nine children with unilateral congenital cataracts who underwent cataract surgery when ≤6 weeks of age. All had good compliance with optical correction until 6 years of age and patching therapy until at least 12 months of age. Results: The children underwent cataract surgery at a mean age of 21.7 ± 9.5 days. At 12 months of age the children were patched a mean of 6.7 ± 2.4 hours/day. Patching compliance declined steadily thereafter. By 6 years of age, they were only being patched a mean of 1.7 ± 2.0 hours/day. Four children abandoned patching prior to the 6 year exam; the acuities improved or remained the same for three of these children, but worsened for one child by two lines. Conclusion: Visual acuity remained relatively stable even when patching therapy was reduced or abandoned by children ≤ 6 years of age provided cataract surgery was performed during early infancy, an optical correction was consistently worn and there was good compliance with patching therapy during early childhood.