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BACKGROUND: Pediatric cataract is an important cause of avoidable childhood blindness in India. Although there are studies on clinical features and visual acuity outcomes of pediatric cataract surgery, there are no studies that look into aspects of color vision, stereopsis, and cognitive functions in children with cataracts. Studying these parameters pre- and postsurgery will help us assess the overall components of visual function that are critical for the child's development. With this in mind, we aimed to study the clinical features, outcome of treatment, color vision, stereopsis, and cognitive functions in children with cataracts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Design: Hospital-based prospective descriptive study. Data of 68 children (0 < 18 years) were collected, on the clinical features, visual acuity, color vision, stereopsis, and social and intelligence quotient before and after surgery. Data analysis was performed using Graph Pad Prism software version 9.4.0 (673). RESULTS: Ninety eyes of 68 children (36-bilateral/32-unilateral) were operated. A total of 46 children were available at 6 months' follow-up (28 bilateral cataracts (46 eyes) and 18 unilateral cataracts). Nineteen (67.8%) of the bilateral, had a best corrected visual acuity of 6/6-6/18 in the better eye and nine (50%) of the unilateral had a visual acuity of 6/18-6/6 in the operated eye. Preoperatively, 61.5% of the children had a stereopsis of 100-600 arc-secs. Post-operatively, 84.4% of the children had a stereopsis in the range <50-600 arc-secs. All children had color vision deficiency. Preoperatively, 62% of the children had strong and moderate deficiency, whereas postoperatively, 66.6% had mild deficiency. We found negative correlation (r = -0.503) between social quotient and percentage of visual impairment indicating that when visual impairment increases social quotient decreases. The mean IQ preoperatively was 94.36 ± 2.98 and postoperatively 101.38 ± 2.77, with 95% confidence interval P value was statistically significant (P = 0.0001). This shows better and faster performance postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Majority of the children had improved visual acuity after surgery. This outcome can be extrapolated to the overall improvement in stereopsis, color vision, and higher cognitive functions.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: While there are a few studies that show the prevalence of blindness and ocular morbidity in children, studies on socioeconomic factors in childhood cataracts are scarce. We aimed to study the socioeconomic status, education and occupation of the parents, consanguinity, and gender inequality among children presenting with cataracts. Methods: This was a hospital-based, prospective, descriptive study of 68 children with cataracts (aged 0–18 years). In addition to the data on clinical parameters and surgical management, we also collected data on age, gender, age at which the chief complaint was noticed, consanguinity of parents, socioeconomic class, and occupation and education of parents. All statistical analyses were performed using MedCalc statistical software (MedCalc Software 2019, Ostend, Belgium). Results: Sixty-eight children with pediatric cataract, out of which 36 were bilateral, were studied. Thirty children (44%) were in the age group of 1–5 years. Out of the 36 bilateral cataracts, 25 (69.44%) were males and 11 (30.56%) were females. Thirty (44.1%) had a delayed presentation. Also, 31% belonged to middle class and 28% belonged to lower middle class. Moreover, 65% of the mothers had an undergraduate education. Conclusion: There is a gender-based inequality and late presentation of childhood cataracts. To improve early detection, red reflex screening should be mandatorily done. Further studies are required to identify barriers to access of eye care specific to girls, in order to plan interventions to improve uptake of treatment. The lower socioeconomic status of the patients should be taken into account in the management of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]