Central corneal thickness and intraocular pressure changes after congenital cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation in children younger than 2 years

Purpose: To evaluate the change in central corneal thickness (CCT) and intraocular pressure (IOP) preoperatively to postoperatively in children younger than 2 years of age having surgery with primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation for congenital cataract. Setting: Tertiary care institute, Chandigarh, India. Design: Prospective case series. Methods: Children younger than 2 years old who had phacoaspiration with IOL implantation were studied. The preoperative pachymetry and IOP were compared with the postoperative values at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Pachymetry was measured using an ultrasound pachymeter and lap with a handheld Perkins applanation tonometer. Results: Thirty-one patients (aged 3 to 24 months) were analyzed. There were 24 bilateral cases and 7 unilateral cases. The CCT increased significantly from a preoperative value of 529.84 mu m +/- 11.7 (SD) to a postoperative value of 553 +/- 15.5 mu m at 1 year (P =.022). The mean increase in CCT was 23.16 gm and in IOP, 2.59 mm Hg. The change in CCT correlated with the change in IOP at 1 year (P =.011). Conclusions: After cataract surgery, the CCT in pediatric eyes increased significantly. The CCT values were an important consideration in the measurement of 10P in children younger than 2 years having cataract extraction with primary IOL implantation.