A 10-month-old child undergoes lensectomy for a dense unilateral congenital cataract. Which method of optical correction is most appropriate at this age?

• A Epikeratophakia using donor lenticule
• B Primary in-the-bag intraocular lens implantation at the same sitting
• C Spectacles with a high-plus lens on the operated eye only
• D Contact lens ✓

Explanation

For unilateral infantile aphakia, a contact lens is the standard correction in infancy because it changes with the growing eye, provides a full field of view, and can be updated frequently. Primary IOL implantation below 2 years remains controversial owing to rapid axial growth and high complication rates. Spectacles cannot correct unilateral aphakia acceptably because of aniseikonia, and epikeratophakia is obsolete.

Reference: AAO Basic and Clinical Science Course, Section 6: Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, 2023-2024 ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.