The Use of Intraocular Lenses in Children

Managing children with cataracts is time consuming and often frustrating. None of the options for the correction of aphakia in childhood are ideal, and amblyopia remains the biggest obstacle to good vision. Spectacles, contact lenses, and epikeratophakia all have significant disadvantages, and intraocular lenses are beginning to emerge as a widely accepted alternative. Although amblyopia will continue to be the toughest management issue, advances in surgical technique and lens design may make management of childhood cataracts simpler. This article will review current trends of intraocular lens use in children, with an emphasis on surgical techniques and recommendations. Results and precautions will also be discussed, as well as controversial areas such as bilateral intraocular lens and the use of intraocular lens in very young children.