[Primary intraocular lens implantation can be applied in infants over 7 months of age and young children with adequate consideration]

Abstract

In recent years, intraocular lenses (IOLs) have been increasingly used in the correction of aphakia after congenital cataract extraction. But IOL implantation in infants and young children, especially under 1 year old, is still controversy. Large-scale, multi-center, randomly controlled clinical observations on this issue have been conducted. The mid-and long-term results have shown that infantile cataract extraction combined with primary IOL implantation can achieve the same or better visual outcome as aphakic contact lens correction. For infants over 7 months of age and young children, primary implantation of IOLs is relatively safe, with a low complication and secondary operation rate. Compared to the way of aphakic contact lens correction, which could be with more inconvenience, high demand of coordination, a higher infection risk, high cost and the need of a secondary IOL implantation surgery, primary implantation of IOLs at over 7 months of age is worth exploring, with appropriate understanding of the surgical indications and adequate surgical techniques. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2021, 57: 487-491).