Traumatic pediatric cataract in southern Ethiopia-results of 49 cases

PURPOSE To report the experience of two tertiary care facilities in southern Ethiopia in the treatment of traumatic pediatric cataract for a period of more than 1 year. METHODS The medical records of consecutive traumatic pediatric cataract patients who underwent surgery at the Hawassa University and the Yirgalem University schools of medicine from July 2007 to August 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients with a follow-up of at least 12 months were included. RESULTS A total of 49 children were included. Mean patient age was 8.6 +/- 0.3 years (range, 5-15 years). Of the 49 cases, 32 (65%) were caused by blunt trauma. Average follow-up period was 15 months. Postoperative visual acuity of counting fingers or better was achieved in 43(88%) eyes compared with 5 (10%) at presentation (P < 0.0001). Better visual acuity at presentation and blunt trauma were associated with better final visual acuity. Only blunt trauma was found by multivariate analysis to influence final visual acuity (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Visual acuity of counting fingers or better visual can be achieved in most cases. Blunt trauma is a good independent prognostic factor for visual acuity.