Pediatric cataract surgery complications linked to trauma, aphakia, and other factors

Certain factors, such as ocular trauma, aphakia, premature retina, persistent fetal vasculature, and Hispanic ethnicity, increase the risk of retinal detachment following pediatric cataract surgery, according to a study.

In the retrospective cohort study using data from the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s IRIS Registry, researchers analyzed medical records of 7,407 children under 18 who underwent cataract surgery between 2013 and 2020. The study found that 3.8% of patients were diagnosed with retinal detachment within 5 years of surgery, with 1.6% requiring surgical repair. Children with a history of ocular trauma, aphakia, premature retina, persistent fetal vasculature, and Hispanic ethnicity had a higher risk of developing retinal detachment.

Reference
Altamirano F, Jeon JH, Lee JY, et al; IRIS® Registry Analytic Center Consortium. Factors Associated with Retinal Detachment Following Pediatric Cataract Surgery in the IRIS® Registry. Ophthalmology. 2025;S0161-6420(25)00151-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2025.03.003. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40081617.