Real-world use of integrated intraoperative OCT in pediatric cataract.

Purpose: To study the utility of integrated intraoperative OCT (i2OCT) in pediatric patients with cataracts in the real world.

Methods: It was a retrospective case series. We included patients aged 0-12 years with unilateral or bilateral cataracts who underwent cataract surgery or membranectomy for visual axis opacification between July 2022 and December 2023, where intraoperative OCT was used. We matched the clinical data with i2OCT images and tried to identify any useful information i2OCT provided. Intraoperative notes were reviewed to analyze any changes in the surgical plan or steps after doing i2OCT.

Results: The mean age of the children undergoing surgery was 5.9 ± 2.4 years (range: 6 months-9 years). OCT provided valuable insights into the anterior, posterior capsule, and vitreolental surface morphology. The surgical decision was modified in 10 cases after doing the intraoperative OCT (31.3%).

Conclusions: The study adds to the database of pediatric patients imaged using i2OCT in the real world. i2OCT complements the preoperative examination and aids intraoperative decision-making in cases of white cataracts with excellent real-time delineation of the vitreolental interface in children.