Long-term Outcome of Pediatric Aphakic Glaucoma

Purpose: To determine the long-term outcome in pediatric patients with aphakic glaucoma.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 130 patients diagnosed with aphakic glaucoma between 1969 and 2004 was performed. A total of 36 patients (55 eyes) were included in this study after excluding those who had cataract extraction after age 10 and those patients with other ocular conditions, systemic syndromes, traumatic cataracts, congenital glaucoma, or inadequate follow-up (less than 1 year). Outcome variables studied included visual acuity, number of medication changes required over the course of the follow-up, maximum number of medications used at a time for more than 6 months to control intraocular pressures, and surgical interventions required. Mean follow-up period was 18.7 years (range, 6.9-35 years).

Results: At the time of last follow-up, 54.5% of the patients had visual acuity 20/40 or better, 34.5% had 20/50 to 20/200, and 11% had acuity worse than 20/200. During the course of follow-up, 34% required 1 to 2 medication changes for controlling glaucoma, 33% required 3 to 5 medication changes, and 33% required 6 or more medication changes. Thirty-six percent of the eyes required a maximum of 1 to 2 medications for more than 6 months during the course of follow-up, 33% required 3, and 31% required 4 or more medications for controlling intraocular pressure. Of the 55 eyes, 15 eyes (27%) required surgical intervention. Six of the 15 eyes (40%) required 1 surgery, 8 eyes (53%) required 2 to 3 surgeries, and 1 eye (7%) required 4 to 6 surgeries.

Conclusion: Patients with glaucoma after pediatric cataract surgery can have a good visual outcome although multiple medications and surgical interventions may be required to control the glaucoma.