Retinal hemorrhage following lensectomy and anterior vitrectomy in children.

Lensectomy and anterior vitrectomy were performed on 13 eyes of 10 consecutive children, aged 10 years or less, with congenital or acquired nontraumatic cataracts or subluxed lenses. Operative eyes were examined prospectively to determine the incidence and natural course of hemorrhagic retinopathy following lens extraction. Flame-shaped retinal hemorrhages occurred in five eyes of four patients within 24 hours of surgery. In addition, a small vitreous hemorrhage was seen in one of these patients. All hemorrhages cleared within 3 weeks postoperatively. No statistically significant correlation was found between the occurrence of hemorrhage and patient age, race, sex, or duration of surgery. We conclude that retinal hemorrhage following lensectomy and anterior vitrectomy in children may occur more commonly than previously recognized.