AUTHOR=Lin Duoru , Zhu Qiaolin , Zhang Shuyi , Zhou Fengqi , Zhao Lanqin , Wang Qiwei , Chen Wan , Chen Hui , Lin Xiaoshan , Feng Huanling , Zhong Qiuping , Chen Jingjing , Lin Zhuoling , Li Xiaoyan , Xiao Wei , Zhou Yue , Wang Jinghui , Li Jing , Chen Weirong 

TITLE=Postoperative myopic shift and visual acuity rehabilitation in patients with bilateral congenital cataracts

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1406287

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2024.1406287

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=<sec id="sec1"><title>Background</title><p>This study aimed to explore the postoperative myopic shift and its relationship to visual acuity rehabilitation in patients with bilateral congenital cataracts (CCs).</p></sec><sec id="sec2"><title>Methods</title><p>Bilateral CC patients who underwent cataract extraction and primary intraocular lens implantations before 6 years old were included and divided into five groups according to surgical ages (&lt;2, 2–3, 3–4, 4–5, and 5–6 years). The postoperative myopic shift rates, spherical equivalents (SEs), and the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were measured and analyzed.</p></sec><sec id="sec3"><title>Results</title><p>A total of 1,137 refractive measurements from 234 patients were included, with a mean follow-up period of 34 months. The postoperative mean SEs at each follow-up in the five groups were linearly fitted with a mean <italic>R</italic><sup>2</sup> = 0.93 ± 0.03, which showed a downtrend of SE with age (linear regression). Among patients with a follow-up of 4 years, the mean postoperative myopic shift rate was 0.84, 0.81, 0.68, 0.24, and 0.28 diopters per year (D/y) in the five age groups (from young to old), respectively. The BCVA of those with a surgical age of &lt;2 years at the 4-year visit was 0.26 (LogMAR), and the mean postoperative myopic shift rate was 0.84 D/y. For patients with a surgical age of 2–6 years, a poorer BCVA at the 4-year visit was found in those with higher postoperative myopic shift rates (<italic>r</italic> = 0.974, <italic>p</italic> = 0.026, Pearson’s correlation test).</p></sec><sec id="sec4"><title>Conclusion</title><p>Performing cataract surgery for patients before 2 years old and decreasing the postoperative myopic shift rates for those with a surgical age of 2–6 years may benefit visual acuity rehabilitation.</p></sec>