Abstract:  Objective To investigate the myopic shift and axial length growth after cataract extraction and intraocular lens (IOL)implantation in children with congenital cataract. Design Retrospective case series. Participants Thrirty-one children (53 eyes) with congenital cataract accepted primary or secondary IOL implantation. Methods The clinic information of the participants were retrospectively reviewed. The time interval of cataract extraction with primary or secondary IOL implantation was（3.21±1.56）years. The follow-up period was 28.74±11.67 months postoperatively. The participants were divided into 2 groups according to the age at surgery, groupⅠ: ＜3 years old（16 cases, 27 eyes）, groupⅡ: ≥ 3 years old（15 cases, 26 eyes）. The participants were also divided into 3 groups according to the age at follow-up period, group A: ＜4 years old（11 cases, 18 eyes）, group B: 4~6 years old（17 cases, 30 eyes）, group C: ＞6 years old（9 cases, 15 eyes）. During the regular follow-up period, the changes of refractive status and axial length were recorded. Main Outcome Measures The changes of refractive status and axial length. Results The mean myopic shift power of group A, B and C  was 1.18±0.98 D/y, 0.80±0.81 D/y, and 0.71±0.82 D/y respectively (F=3.532，P=0.032), but the difference between group B and C was no statistics significant (P=0.605). The mean axial length growth of  group Ⅰ and Ⅱ was 1.22±0.76 mm and 0.82±0.46 mm respectively (P=0.030). The mean prediction error for the two groups was 1.64±1.32 D and 0.55±1.16 D respectively (P=0.009). During the same follow-up period, the changes of refractive status and axial length showed a moderate correlation (r=0.596，P<0.001). Conclusion The myopic shift power decrease with the age increasing after IOL implantation in children with congenital cataract, the myopic shift power and axial length growth of younger patients are more rapid than older patients. To some degree, the increasing of axial length will effect the myopic shift power. (Ophthalmol CHN, 2014, 23: 80-85)

Key words: congenital cataract, intraocular lens, myopic shift, axial length