Development of the infant eye following congenital and traumatic unilateral cataract.

Developmental processes depend on internal as well as on external factors, with
infancy (age upto eight years) being a critical period. Sensory deprivation,
for instance, can affect the eye with respect to morphology and functioning.
Cataract is diagnosed in children of various ages and standard treatment
implies surgical removal of the affected lens. Depending on eye condition, an
artificial Intra-Ocular Lens (IOL) may be inserted to replace the original one.
Examination of developmental progress of the operated infant eye will increase
knowledge of the underlying mechanism and time course of ocular maturation.
This may help to improve the ophthalmologist*s assessment of best treatment
and/or prospect of pediatric cataract.

Measurement of the growth of the eye of children with unilateral cataract.

Retrospective, non-randomized.

This type of developmental research can only take place with children.
Participants of this study do not benefit from the results of this study. Risks
are negligible; burden comprises 1 visit of 30 minutes to the Rotterdam Eye
Hospital.
Initial measurement of eye axis was performed by echo oculometry (requiring
direct contact with the cornea) at the time of surgery and, thus, under
anesthesia. Methodological consistency would be optimal if this measurement
were repeated, but for ethical reasons (minimal discomfort for patients) and
for practical reasons (maximal number of children cooperating) the second
measurement will be done with a non-contact technique.