Purpose: To evaluate the presence of strabismus in patients with developmental cataract rendered pseudophakic and how this influences their visual acuity.
Methods: A retrospective study was carried out on 113 patients with developmental cataract who came under the authors' observation at the outpatient department of the Pediatric Ophthalmology Unit of the University of Federico II of Naples from 1990 to 2005. All patients were followed up for a long period (mean 62 months, range 36-144 months). Age at diagnosis, sex, laterality, age at cataract extraction, morphology, and cataract density were all considered as possible factors associated with strabismus. Visual acuity and ocular motility before and after cataract extraction surgery were especially noted. Statistical evaluation was performed using t-test, Chi-square test, and Fisher exact test.
Results: Out of the 113 patients a total of 181 eyes were affected: 68 patients (60%) presented bilateral cataract, 45 patients (40%) monolateral cataract. Strabismus was present in 39 patients (34%) before cataract surgery. Age at cataract diagnosis, age at surgery, sex, and cataract morphology were not found to be statistically associated with strabismus. However, laterality was found to be statistically associated with the onset of strabismus. Cataract density was found to be statistically associated with poor vision. Patients with strabismus presented a non statistically significant lower visual acuity.
Conclusions: Strabismus has a greater incidence in developmental cataract compared to the general population, and can influence visual acuity, especially in monolateral and total cataracts. Intraocular lens implants produced satisfactory visual rehabilitation.