[Pediatric phacoemulsification with Acrysof intraocular lens implantation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the operative effects of pediatric phacoemulsification with Acrysof intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. METHODS: Among 153 eyes of 120 children with cataract aged 3 -- 12 years old, phacoemulsification with Acrysof IOL implantation was performed on 76 eyes of 61 children, and cataract extracapsular extraction with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) IOL implantation was performed on 77 eyes of 59 children. The visual acuity, percentages of various complications and rate of neodymium: YAG (Nd: YAG) capsulotomy were followed up for 6 -- 18 months. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the percentages of various complications and rate of neodymium: YAG (Nd: YAG) capsulotomy between the Acrysof group and the PMMA group (P < 0.01). The Acrysof group was associated with less posterior capsular opacification (6.6%) than the PMMA group (80.5%). The YAG capsulotomy rate was 2.6% for the Acrysof group, and 64.9% for the PMMA group. After operation 100% and 90.6% patients were relieved from blindness in the Acrysof group and the PMMA group respectively, the difference being not statistically significant (P > 0.05). 72.6% patients in the Acrysof group and 51.5% in the PMMA group obtained corrected visual acuity greater-than-or-equal 0.3, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Phacoemulsification with Acrysof intraocular lens implantation is effective in pediatric cataract surgery. Most of the patients obtain remarkable improvement in visual acuity with minimal complications and YAG capsulotomy rate after operation. It is necessary to perform further randomized and prospective studies to evaluate the long-term postoperative effects of Acrysof IOLs used in pediatric cataract surgery.