Central corneal thickness and intraocular pressure changes after congenital cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation in children younger than 2 years.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the change in central corneal thickness (CCT) and intraocular pressure (IOP) preoperatively to postoperatively in children younger than 2 years of age having surgery with primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation for congenital cataract.

SETTING: Tertiary care institute, Chandigarh, India.

DESIGN: Prospective case series.

METHODS: Children younger than 2 years old who had phacoaspiration with IOL implantation were studied. The preoperative pachymetry and IOP were compared with the postoperative values at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Pachymetry was measured using an ultrasound pachymeter and IOP with a handheld Perkins applanation tonometer.

RESULTS: Thirty-one patients (aged 3 to 24 months) were analyzed. There were 24 bilateral cases and 7 unilateral cases. The CCT increased significantly from a preoperative value of 529.84 μm ± 11.7 (SD) to a postoperative value of 553 ± 15.5 μm at 1 year (P = .022). The mean increase in CCT was 23.16 μm and in IOP, 2.59 mm Hg. The change in CCT correlated with the change in IOP at 1 year (P = .011).

CONCLUSIONS: After cataract surgery, the CCT in pediatric eyes increased significantly. The CCT values were an important consideration in the measurement of IOP in children younger than 2 years having cataract extraction with primary IOL implantation.