Abstract: Objective · To analyze the changes in visual function and adverse effects of wearing rigid gas permeable contact lens (RGPCL) and primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in the infants with monocular aphakia after congenital cataract surgery. Methods · The pre- and postoperative visual acuity, strabismus, nystagmus, adherence to patching and adverse events of the patients with unilateral congenital cataract who underwent cataract surgery with or without primary IOL implantation were analyzed retrospectively. RGPCLs were used to correct aphakia who did not receive IOLs. Results · All of 60 patients were included in this study. Twenty patients with unilateral aphakia used RGPCLs (group 1). Forty patients were implanted with IOLs primarily (group 2). In group 1, there was obvious improvement in visual acuity and strabismus (P<0.05). There was no statistic difference in visual acuity and strabismus between group 1 and group 2 finally. Nystagmus remission rate in group 1 was higher than that in group 2. The patients with adherence to patching had better visual acuity after operation than those without (P<0.05). All of the patients in group 1 had no ocular disease that affect visual acuity. More adverse events happened in group 2. Conclusion · Wearing RGPCL is a safe and effective optical correction method for the patients with monocular aphakia after congenital cataract surgery, especially for the patients below 2 years old who are not suifor IOL implantation. RGPCL has similar visual correction effect on the patients with primary IOL implantation, but it is accompaniedless adverse events.

Key words: rigid gas permeable contact len, congenital cataract, monocular, aphakia, intraocular len