Clinical analysis of the incidence and the treatment of pediatric cataract patients with optic-nerve maldevelopment.

Purpose: To interpret the incidence of optic-nerve maldevelopment in postoperative pediatric cataract patients, and evaluate the clinical efficacy of administration of murine nerve growth factor (mNGF) in such patients.

Methods: Pattern visual evoked potential (P-VEP) was used to measure the visual pathway function in 28 cases (56 eyes) with bilateral congenital cataract and 13 cases (13 eyes) with unilateral congenital cataract who underwent cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation surgeries. The results were compared with 25 age-sex-matched healthy children (50 eyes). mNGF was administered in 13 cases (23 eyes) who had visual pathway disorder. The efficacy of mNGF injection was observed. P100 latencies, which were used as a main parameter in P-VEP measurement, were analyzed statistically.

Results: When compared with normal children, the P100 latency was significantly prolonged in the congenital cataract group (P < 0.05). A significant improvement was noted in the visual pathway of subjects treated with mNGF (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Compared with normal children, the congenital cataract patients are more vulnerable to optic-nerve maldevelopment. Murine NGF likely plays a protective and nutritive role in the development of optic nerve in cases of optic-nerve maldevelopment followed by congenital cataract surgery.