Changes in central corneal thickness after congenital cataract surgery

PURPOSE: To evaluate central corneal thickness (CCT) changes after congenital cataract surgery with or without intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. SETTING: Ophthalmic Research Center, Labbafinejad Medical Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. DESIGN: Comparative case series. METHODS: Anterior lensectomy and anterior vitrectomy were performed in eyes with congenital cataract. Eyes had IOL implantation (pseudophakic group) or remained aphakic (aphakic group). The CCT and intraocular pressure were measured in all cases preoperatively and 1 and 6 months postoperatively. Age-matched normal eyes served as a control group. RESULTS: The study evaluated 47 eyes (30 patients), 32 pseudophakic and 15 aphakic. The mean preoperative CCT was 540 mu m +/- 34 (SD) in the pseudophakic group, 548 +/- 61 rim in the aphakic group, and 558 +/- 36 mu m in the control group (P = .207). The mean CCT in the aphakic group was significantly greater than in the pseudophakic group (587 +/- 65 mu m versus 539 +/- 37 mu m) 1 month postoperatively (P = .018) and at 6 months (602 +/- 65 mu m versus 540 +/- 36 mu m) (P = .012). Although the CCT values in the pseudophakic group at 1 month and 6 months were similar to preoperative values (P = .463 and P = 1.00, respectively), both postoperative CCT values in the aphakic group were significantly greater than preoperatively (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: The CCT in eyes with congenital cataract was similar to that in normal age-matched eyes. However, shortly after cataract removal, the CCT was significantly greater in aphakic eyes than in pseudophakic eyes.