Effect of Heparin on Incidence of Posterior Capsular Opacification Aftercataract Surgery in Children

Aim: to find out the effect of heparin on the incidence of posterior capsular opacification after cataract surgery in children. study design: quasi experimental design. place and duration of study: redo eye hospital,rawalpindi from jan 2008 to jan 2011. materials and methods: twenty eyes of fifteen patients aging 4 to 10 years with uncomplicated pediatric cataracts were selected in the study. the children were operated for cataract under general anesthesia and the anterior chamber was irrigated with heparin sodium (5 iu/cc) while added to balanced salt solution (bss plus). all patients received standardized postoperative treatment. all patients were followed on the first post operative day,after one week,after one month and were advised follow up at the 3rd,6th months and one year postoperatively for the incidence of pco. results: no fibrinous reaction or membrane or synechias formation on the pupil was observed. posterior capsular opacification(pco) was observed in 10% cases after 6 months and in 15% cases after one year. conclusion: after irrigating the anterior chamber with heparin sodium in cataract surgery of children the incidence of pcowas 15% on one year follow up.