Aigerim Tuletova

Background and Objectives: Pediatric cataract comprises a heterogeneous group of disorders with varying etiologies, laterality patterns, age and gender distributions, and contemporary data from Central Asia remain limited. The study aimed to describe the etiologic spectrum, laterality, age, and gender distribution of pediatric cataract from a two-center tertiary cohort from Kazakhstan. Materials and Methods: This retrospective two-center cohort study included all consecutive children aged ≤17 years who underwent cataract surgery between January 2022 and December 2024 at the Astana and Almaty branches of the Kazakh Eye Research Institute. Recorded variables included age at surgery, gender, cataract laterality, and etiology. Etiologies were classified as congenital, traumatic, ectopia lentis-associated, and complicated cataract. No formal hypothesis-testing framework was predefined; analyses were primarily descriptive. Results: A total of 528 children (782 eyes) were included. Median age at surgery was 6.5 years (IQR 4.3–9.9 years). Children were distributed as ≤6 years: 294 (55.68%), 7–11 years: 156 (29.55%), and 12–17 years: 78 (14.77%). Operated eyes were distributed as 466 (59.59%), 216 (27.62%), and 100 (12.79%), respectively. Congenital cataract was the predominant etiology, accounting for 412/528 children (78.03%) and 645/782 eyes (82.48%), and was predominantly bilateral (233/412 children, 56.55%). Traumatic cataract accounted for 68/528 children (12.88%) and was uniformly unilateral, with male predominance (53/68, 77.94%). Ectopia lentis-associated cataract accounted for 24/528 children (4.55%) and was more often bilateral (14/24, 58.33%). Complicated cataracts accounted for 24/528 children (4.55%). Conclusions: Overall, these findings demonstrate that the etiologic profile of pediatric cataract surgery varies substantially by age, gender, and laterality.

Both genetic and environmental factors play a role in the increased prevalence of myopia. Multiple cross-sectional and longitudinal studies report an association between education and myopia. The purpose of this study is to study the structure and prevalence of refractive errors, as well as risk factors for the formation of myopia in schoolchildren in Astana. Methods. The cross-sectional study involved 200 students (400 eyes) in urban secondary schools. We studied autorefraction, subjective refraction using the "fogging" method and proposed a questionnaire in two age groups: 4th grade – 9 -10 years old (n=100), 9th grade - 15-16 years old (n=100). The questionnaire covered major risk factors such as parental myopia, screen time, outdoor time, working at close range, sports, daily routine, and subjective visual complaints. The association of risk factors with myopia was examined. Results. The overall prevalence of refractive errors was 46.75% (95% confidence interval (CI) 40; 53.5); myopia 36.75% (95% CI 27.5; 46); hyperopia 10% (95% CI 12.5–7.5) and astigmatism 18.75% (95% CI 11.5; 26). In the senior class group (9th grade), the percentage of myopia was higher (27.5% and 46%), while outdoor activity more than 2 hours a day (60.1% and 48%) and sports (65% and 48%) were associated with a lower incidence of myopia in the younger group (4th grade). Conclusions. The most common refractive error among schoolchildren in Astana is myopia. Measures to prevent the formation and progression of myopia, including increased time spent outdoors and playing sports, should guide public health interventions for this population.