Changes of corneal central thickness of aphakia following congenital cataract surgery under the first six months of life

AIM: To observe the central corneal thickness (CCT) changes in infants and young children who had been undergone bilateral congenital cataract surgery, and to compare the changes with normal control group which was selected from healthy population. METHODS: A cross section case-control study contained 28 cases (56 eyes) of bilateral aphakia (aphakic group) due to congenital cataract surgery combining with posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis and with anterior vitrectomy during 2-6 months after birth. Fourteen children (28 eyes) of age-sex matched with the aphalic group were selected as normal control group. CCT and intraocular pressure (TOP) were measured postoperatively and the results were compared between groups. RESULTS: The mean CCT was 653.5 +/- 82.4 mu m in the aphakic group and 579.6 +/- 39.2 mu m in the control group, with a significant difference (P=0.000). The mean value of TOP in aphakic group (22.0 +/- 1.6mmHg) was greater than that of control group (16.9 +/- 2.1mmHg), P=0.023. There was a negative correlation between age and CCT in normal control group (r=-0.531, P=0.026), and there was no correlation in bilateral aphakia group (r=-0.324, P=0.165). CONCLUSION: Aphakic children due to congenital cataract surgery have a greater CCT than normal children. It is necessary to consider CCT in evaluating IOP for children after congenital cataract surgery.