Ocular complications after bone marrow transplant

Sunday, April 27 2014 | 00 h 00 min | News

Children who have undergone bone marrow transplantation have a higher risk of developing ocular complications and should receive special follow-up from eyecare professionals.

Researchers from Memphis recently presented a study on the topic to the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. Their study involved 63 girls and 85 boys who had an ophthalmic examination before bone marrow transplantation between 1995 and 2009.

At a mean follow-up of 3.8 years, 40 (27.5%) of the children developed cataracts and 4 (10%) required cataract surgery. The risk for cataract development increased with length of survival after transplantation. Patients who survived 15 years after surgery had a 42.88% risk of developing a cataract.

In addition, 38.5% of patients had developed dry eye syndrome.

“With medical advances, children requiring bone marrow transplant have increasing survival rates,” said first author Julie Calderwood. “It’s important for pediatric and general ophthalmologists to be aware that potential ocular complications can have a long-term impact.”

Source:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/823528