Contrast sensitivity assessment in pediatric cataract surgery: comparison of preoperative and early postoperative outcomes.

Purpose: To evaluate the preoperative and early postoperative differences in contrast sensitivity at high and low spatial frequencies after cataract extraction with in-the-bag intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in children presenting with lamellar and posterior subcapsular cataract.

Setting: Iladevi Cataract & IOL Research Centre, Ahmedabad, India.

Design: Prospective clinical trial.

Methods: In eyes with lamellar or posterior subcapsular cataract having cataract surgery with Acrysof SN60WF IOL implantation, contrast sensitivity testing was performed using the CSV-1000E sine wave grating test face at 3, 6, 12, and 18 cycles per degree under photopic (85.0 candelas [cd]/m(2)) and mesopic (2.7 cd/m(2)) conditions. The main outcome measures were contrast sensitivity under photopic and mesopic conditions preoperatively and 1 and 3 months postoperatively. The corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was recorded in logMAR units. The effect of the type of cataract and of age at surgery on contrast sensitivity preoperatively and 1 and 3 months postoperatively was also evaluated.

Results: The mean age of 13 patients (22 eyes) was 7.85 years ± 2.6 (SD). There was a statistically significant difference in contrast sensitivity at every timepoint at every spatial frequency under mesopic and photopic conditions. There was also a statistically significant improvement in CDVA from preoperatively to 1 month postoperatively and from 1 month to 3 months postoperatively (both P<.001).

Conclusion: There was a significant improvement in contrast sensitivity at high and low spatial frequencies, even in children older than 4 years, after cataract surgery for lamellar or posterior subcapsular cataract.

Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.