Surgery of the Lens in Infancy and Childhood

I AM HONORED to be invited to give the first John E. Weeks Memorial Lecture. Dr. Weeks was interested in all aspects of ophthalmology, and especially in ocular surgery, and would therefore have been interested in my subject. The procedures I shall advocate are based partly on theoretical considerations, partly on the experience of others but chiefly on my own experience. Disorders of the lens which may require surgical treatment in infancy and childhood include (1) congenital cataract, (2) traumatic cataract, (3) cataract associated with uveitis and (4) congenital dislocation of the lens and microphakia or spherophakia. CONGENITAL CATARACT There are many types of congenital cataract, ranging from bilateral complete cataract to insignificant congenital opacities, requiring no treatment. In general, the type of cataract has little to do with the indication for operation, though it may influence the choice of operation. From a surgical standpoint, congenital cataracts may be classified as