THEORETIC REFRACTIVE CHANGES AFTER LENS IMPLANTATION IN CHILDHOOD

Abstract

Cataract in childhood not only reduces vision but also interferes with normal visu l. development. The management of pediatric cataracts is by far more complex than the management of cataracts in adults. The timing of surgery the surgical technique, the choice of aphakic correction and amblyopia management are of utmost importance to achieve good and long lasting results in,children.

The choice of what dioptric power of the IOL to implant in young children is the main difficulty that faces the ophthalmogolist due to rapid growth ofthe eye during the first2 years of life.

We tried to investigate refractive changes in pediatric eye and we found that

1- In Normal Children

a) Axial Length changes

Increases with age with different rates at different age groups (15.1±0.9)

at 30-35 W (of gestation) to 23.6±0.7 in adults b) Ket•atometric changes Reduction with age from 53.6±2.5 at 30-35 W (of gestation) to

43.5±1.2 in adults

c) Refractive Error Changes

• At birth there is slight hyperopia That progressed to mild myopia in ' adults with a mean of -1.5 D