Clinical profile and surgical outcome of cataract in congenital rubella syndrome

Session Details

Session Title: Congenital Cataract Surgery

Session Date/Time: Sunday 14/09/2014 | 16:30-18:30

Paper Time: 17:00

Venue: Boulevard A

First Author: : D.Meda INDIA

Co Author(s): :    J. Matalia   N. Kasturi   H. Matalia        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To study and report the clinical profile and outcomes of cataract surgery in infants and children diagnosed with congenital rubella syndrome.

Setting:

Narayana Nethralaya, Bangalore, India

Methods:

Retrospective, interventional, comparative case series .Children with serologically proven congenital rubella syndrome who underwent cataract extraction from 2007 to2011 were analyzed. Demographic profiles, systemic and ocular features were documented. Post-operative complications were studied in all cases and visual outcome was analyzed in patients having more than1 year follow-up.

Results:

24 eyes of 13 patients were included in the study of which there were 8 males and 5 females. The mean patient age was 8.69 ranging from 2 to29 months. The mean follow up was 17.12 months All children had cardiac disease, 5 children had hearing problems and 4 children had developmental delay. 11 cases had bilateral and 2 cases had unilateral lens opacities. Morphologically, total cataract was the most common type, others being nuclear, lamellar and posterior subcapsular cataract. Associated ocular features included microphthalmos (12 eyes-50%), microcornea (17 eyes-71%), salt and pepper retinopathy (13 eyes-54%), nystagmus (5 patients-38%) and squint (5 patients-38%). Postoperative complications included transient corneal edema (4 eyes-17%), secondary glaucoma (1eyes-4%) and postoperative fibrinous uveitis (4 eyes-173%). Visual acuity improved in 22 (92%) cases with no improvement in 2 cases. In 50% of the cases the vision remained around 20/200 as only 10 cases (45%) were operated within the critical period.

Conclusions:

The results suggest that the ocular and systemic features in congenital rubella syndrome are variable and diverse. Common cause of poor visual outcome is presumed to be delayed presentation, associated retinopathy and other systemic associations in addition to the stimulus deprivational amblyopia. Congenital Rubella Syndrome, though of major concern in developing countries is now on rise in developed countries. Its awareness is of great importance as early surgical intervention & timely rehabilitation improves the visual outcome after cataract surgery.

Financial Interest:

NONE