Near-total posterior capsulotomy in congenital cataract surgery: a novel surgical approach

ABSTRACT
Background: To define near-total posterior capsulotomy instead of partial posterior capsulotomy with lens aspiration and 
anterior vitrectomy in congenital cataract surgery.
Materials and Methods: The research was carried out in a tertiary care center. Eleven patients who underwent near-total 
posterior capsulotomy, lens aspiration, and anterior vitrectomy surgery for treatment of congenital cataract between January 
2010 and September 2018 were included in the study. Lenticular leukocoria was accepted as an indication for surgery. Patients
who were older than six months at diagnosis and had a follow-up time of less than six months were excluded from the research. 
Surgical success was defined as the presence of a clear central visual axis in postoperative 6th months.
Results: The study included 22 eyes from 11 cataract surgery patients due to congenital cataracts. Both eyes of all patients 
underwent surgery in the same session. At the time of diagnosis, the average age of the patients was 2.89 ± 1.8 months, and at 
the time of surgery, the mean age of the patients was 3.70 ± 1.84 months. The average follow-up time was 16.54 ± 14.96 (8-
48) months. Intraoperative complications did not occur in any patient. Visual axis opacification was not observed in any patient 
during the follow-up.
Conclusions: Near-total posterior capsulotomy is an easy and safe surgical technique. It could reduce the visual axis 
opacification.