Comparison of polymethylmethacrylate versus hydrophobic acrylic lenses for primary intraocular lens implantation in pediatric cataract surgery

AIM: To compare the visual results and postoperative complications of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs) in children who underwent cataract extraction with primary IOL implantation. METHODS: This retrospective study included 117 eyes of 63 children with bilateral pediatric cataract undergoing cataract surgery and primary IOL implantation. The patients were divided into two groups, Group I included 58 eyes of 30 patients with PMMA IOLs; Group II included 59 eyes of 33 patients with hydrophobic acrylic IOLs. The clinical features, refraction errors, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and surgical complications were compared between two groups. RESULTS: The mean age at the time of surgery was 5.8 (2-12)y and mean follow up period was 40.5 (6-196)mo. Postoperatively, BCVA was ≥0.5 in 80 eyes (68.4%) and this was comparable in two groups. Visual axis opacification was seen in 28 eyes (48.3%) in Group I and 16 eyes (27.1%) in Group II and this difference was statistically significant (P=0.018). Postoperative IOL dislocation and posterior synechia formation were also noted. When all postoperative complications were considered, there were significantly less complications in the acrylic IOL group than PMMA IOL group (P=0.020). CONCLUSION: Pediatric cataract surgery with primary IOL implantation is a safe procedure. Hydrophobic acrylic IOLs may lead to less postoperative complications compared to PMMA IOLs.