OTS is reliable in predicting paediatric cataract visual outcome

The Ocular Trauma Score (OTS) is a reliable predictor of final visual outcome in children with traumatic cataract, according to a paper featured in the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

The retrospective cohort study, led by Dr Mehul A. Shah, Drashti Netralaya, Gujarat, India, included 354 children with traumatic cataract. Each child was examined and reviewed for comorbidities caused by trauma.

Surgery and IOL implantation was performed for each patient and each was treated for amblyopia, if necessary. Six weeks postoperatively all patients were re-examined. Patients were divided into two traumatic cataract groups- open-globe injury and close-globe injury. The OTS was used to predict visual outcomes and the results were compared with outcomes gathered from statistical tests.

In the open-globe group six weeks postoperatively it was found that final corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was better than 20/200 in 181 eyes and 20/40 or better in 110 eyes. In the closed-globe group CDVA was better than 20/200 in 36 eyes and 20/40 or better in 15 eyes.

In total, 214 eyes presented with a final CDVA better than 20/200 and 123 eyes had a CDVA of 20/40 or better. This indicated that the OTS is a reliable predictor of the final visual outcome in paediatric patients with traumatic cataract.