Myopic shift in pediatric cataract surgery associated with age and surgical complications.

Purpose: To investigate predictors for myopic shift after pediatric cataract surgery after at least 3 years follow-up.

Study design: Cross-sectional and retrospective study.

Methods: This study included patients treated for congenital or infantile cataract operated up to 5 years of age between 2010 and 2017. Patients were recruited for ophthalmologic evaluation. Surgical and medical data were acquired in medical charts.

Statistical analysis: Univariate and multivariate regressions were performed to look for potential risk factors for myopic shift.

Results: This study evaluated 81 eyes of 50 patients, with 62 (77%) being bilateral cases, 48 (59%) with intraocular lens implantation, and 37 (74%) patients being strabismic. Age at surgery was 7.7 (3.7-30.5) months and at evaluation was 93.5 (55.1-113.0) months. Total myopic shift was -4.32 ± 3.25 D, significantly greater in patients operated on up to 6 months of life (-5.73 ± 3.14 D). The distant best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.6 (0.3-1.0) log of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR). Regarding myopic shift, in univariate analysis, older age at surgery is a protective factor (+0.08 D for each month older, P = 0.001). The presence of strabismus (-2.52 D, P = 0.014), aphakia (-2.45 D, P = 0.006), distant BCVA (-0.15 D per 0.1 logMAR, P = 0.024), and surgical complications (-3.02 D, P = 0.001) are risk factors. In multivariate analysis, older age at surgery (+0.06 D, P = 0.012) and surgical complications (-2.52 D, P = 0.001) remain significant.

Conclusion: In pediatric cataract surgery, myopic shift is greater when surgery is performed in a younger age and if associated with surgical complications.