Intraocular lens implantation in children with unilateral traumatic cataract

A group of 23 children with traumatic pseudophakia was evaluated. Intraocular lens (IOL) implantation was performed as a primary procedure, immediately after aspiration of the traumatic lens, in 7 cases and as a secondary procedure in 16 cases. The mean followup was 6.5 years, varying from 1.5 to 11 years. A visual acuity of 0.7 or more was achieved in 3 of the 8 patients under 7 years of age and in 13 of the 15 cases from 7 to 14 years of age. Awaiting longer follow-up results of epikeratophakia in children we advise to perform early IOL implantation in children under 7 years of age, combined with a rigid amblyopia treatment scheme. In children older than 7 years of age we prefer to try the use of contact lenses first and preserve IOL implantation for selected cases.