Evaluating the evidence for and against the use of IOLs in infants and young children

Abstract

Congenital cataracts account for 5-20% of childhood blindness worldwide. In the US, the prevalence of visually significant infantile cataracts is anywhere from 3-4 per 10,000 live births. Infantile cataracts need to be removed early in life in order to prevent the onset of deprivation amblyopia. As a result, cataract surgery is usually performed between age 4-8 weeks depending on the laterality and severity of the cataract. Given advances in the field, pediatric cataract surgery is now a safe and effective intervention for infants, but good visual outcomes require occlusion therapy and optical correction. This review will address current perspectives on the use of intraocular lenses to optically correct infants and young children after cataract surgery, as well as novel designs for intraocular lenses and directions for future research.

Keywords: Congenital cataract; Infant Aphakia Treatment Study; IoL under 2 cohort study; adjustable intraocular lenses; infantile cataract; primary infantile intraocular lens implantation.