Following cataract surgery, aphakic children who received a secondary intraocular lens (IOL) had a lower glaucoma risk than those who did not, according to a US study. 

Dr Serena Wang, University of Texas, studied complications and refractive errors in 80 children (108 eyes) aged <13 years following secondary IOL implantation. They had no history of glaucoma or nontraumatic cataract. Primary lens surgeries were performed at a median age of two months and secondary IOL surgery at a median age of 2.4 years. 

The most frequent complications within three years of secondary IOL implantation were glaucoma-related adverse events in 17% and 12% of those with bilateral and unilateral cataracts, respectively. 

Dr Wang pointed out that eyes that were aphakic following lensectomy and those receiving a secondary IOL have an ongoing risk of developing new glaucoma-related adverse events by three years of age. Furthermore, Dr Wang said the low level of hyperopia seen at a median of 5.1 years of age suggested patients will become myopic as they get older. 

The study results were presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s 2022 meeting.