DISTRIBUTION OF PEDIATRIC CATARACTS BY SEX, AGE GROUPS, LATERALITY, TYPE AND PRESENTATION IN POPULATION OF D.I.KHAN DISTRICT, PAKISTAN

Background: Pediatric cataracts cause significant visual disability worldwide. The objectives of this study were to determine the distribution of pediatric cataracts by sex, age groups, laterality, type and presentation in population of D.I.Khan District, Pakistan. Materials & Methods: This descriptive study was carried out at Department of Ophthalmology, Gomal Medical College, D.I.Khan, Pakistan from January 2015 to December 2015. Sample was collected from Eye unit, DHQ Teaching Hospital, D.I.Khan. Pediatric cataract patients under 14 years of age were included in the study. Demographic variables were sex and age groups. Research variables were laterality, type and presentation. All variables being nominal were analyzed through frequency and percentages. The observed and expected distribution of pediatric cataract by sex, age groups, laterality, type and presentation were respectively tested by chi-square goodness of fit test. Results: Out of a sample of 47 patients, 29 (61.7%) were boys and 18 (38.3%) girls, 22 (46.81%) were <5 years and 25 (53.19%) 5-14 years of age. Thirty three (70.21%) had unilateral and 14 (29.79%) bilateral cataracts. Type was congenital/ developmental in 27 (57.45%) patients and traumatic in 20 (42.55%). Presentation was by defective vision in 23 (48.94%), leukocoria 14 (29.79%), strabismus 7 (14.89%) and screening in 3 (6.38%) cases. The observed distribution of pediatric cataract by sex (p=.0158), age groups (p=.00002), laterality (p=<.00001) and type (p=<.00001) was similar to expected, while for presentation, it was different than expected (p=.1033). Conclusion: The prevalence of pediatric cataract was higher for boys than girls and higher for older children (5-14 years) than younger (<5 years) children. Unilateral were more common than bilateral cataracts and the congenital/ developmental were more common than traumatic cataracts. Defective vision was the most common presentation of pediatric cataracts.