The Outcome of Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery and Anterior Vitrectomy for Persistent Fetal Vasculature in an 18-Year-Old Woman: A One-Year Follow-Up

The surgical management of persistent fetal vasculature (PFV) is challenging and the visual outcome can be compromised by coexisting ocular pathologies and amblyopia. It can be considered for relief of retinal traction and improved cosmetic appeal when a squint or a posterior capsular cataract is present. In the case presented in this report, the intermittent exotropia improved from 45 to 30 degrees in one year, which suggests an improvement in binocular single vision. There was also a resolution of the leukocoria and retinal traction. The patient underwent the following examinations: visual activity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, intraocular pressure (Goldmann), fundus photography (OCT TOPCON, 3D OCT-1 Maestro, Topcon, Tokyo, Japan), B-scan Doppler ultrasonography (Mindray DC-N3, Mindray, Shenzhen, China), Keratometry (Topcon KR 800, Topcon, Tokyo, Japan), and axial length (Sonomed 300AP+A Scan/Pachymeter, Sonomed Escalon, Lake Success, NY). Intraocular lens (IOL) power was calculated with the Sanders-Retzlaff-Kraff (SRK) II formula. During surgery, a rigid polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) IOL was inserted into the sulcus after excision of the lesion and anterior vitrectomy. The first day's postoperative evaluation included visual acuity, corneal transparency, depth of anterior chamber, pupil size, shape, pupillary reaction to light, and position of the IOL. Intraocular pressure was normal within the follow-up period. Fundus photography and B-scan examinations were performed at one month and one year.