Myopia predicts better outcome in persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous.

Persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV) is a congenital disorder that presents with a spectrum of ocular anomalies, including cataracts, microphthalmia, and hyaloid vessel remnants. Severe visual loss due to secondary glaucoma and retinal detachment is common. This report evaluates the visual outcome of a variant of PHPV with myopia not associated with glaucoma.The records of 23 consecutive patients with the diagnosis of PHPV (all unilateral) from October 1992 to August 1995 were reviewed. All but three patients had a cataract extraction procedure and all underwent amblyopia therapy. Eyes with a phakic myopic refractive error (Rx) or aphakic refractive correction < or = 8.5 diopters (D) in the immediate postoperative period were designated as myopic.Six patients were in the myopic group (Group 1) and 17 in were the nonmyopic group (Group 2). The mean age of diagnosis was 21.1 months in Group 1 versus 2.0 months in Group 2, with a comparable follow-up period of 36 months. The mean preoperative Rx of Group 1 was -7.78 D. The mean aphakic Rx of Group 2 was +18.29 D. Average axial length measurement determined by echography was 22.46 mm in Group 1 and 14.03 mm in Group 2. The mean corneal diameter was 11.3 mm in Group 1 vs 8.9 mm in Group 2. In Group 2, seven eyes developed retinal detachment and four developed glaucoma. These complications did not develop in Group 1 during the follow-up period. Overall functional visual acuity was better in Group 1, with a median visual acuity at final follow up of 20/160, as compared with light perception for Group 2.PHPV eyes with myopia were not detected as early as the typical PHPV eyes, primarily because of less media opacification and near-normal corneal diameters. These eyes showed a more favorable visual outcome as they were less likely to develop typical PHPV-related postoperative complications. Myopic PHPV eyes may require a different management approach.