AIM: To analyze the similarities and differences of the clinical features between persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous(PHPV)and congenital fibrovascular pupillary membrane(CFPM).

METHODS: Retrospectively analyze the ocular biometric parameters, clinical features and morphological changes in children with PHPV(PHPV group)and CFPM(CFPM group)who received surgery at the department of ophthalmology, Xijing Hospital from March 2006 to December 2021.

RESULTS: The study included 56 cases(61 eyes)of PHPV and 24 cases(25 eyes)of CFPM. There were no differences on the gender and age of onset between PHPV and CFPM, and both of them were mainly unilaterally affected, with the ratio of 91% and 96%. Children with PHPV and cataract combined with other complications and ocular developmental abnormalities. CFPM was mainly presented different degrees of blockage and morphological abnormalities of pupillary area. In unilateral cases of PHPV and CFPM, the anterior chamber depth(ACD)of affected eyes was smaller than that of the fellow eyes, and in subgroups with age of operation ≤24mo, the axial length(AL)of affected eyes was smaller than that of the fellow eyes(PSymbol|@@0.05). The corneal diameter(CD)of the affected eyes in PHPV group was smaller and the intraocular pressure(IOP)was higher than those of the fellow eyes(all PSymbol|@@0.05); while there were no significant differences on CD and IOP between affected eyes and the fellow eyes in CFPM group(P>0.05). The ACD of affected eyes in PHPV group was significantly smaller than that of CFPM group(PSymbol|@@0.05). The fibrovascular membrane in PHPV group was located in the posterior part of the lens and vitreous cavity; while the fibrovascular membrane in CFPM group was located between the iris and the anterior capsule of the lens, rarely involving the lens.

CONCLUSION: PHPV and CFPM had the similar clinical features, suggesting that they may belong to the different variants of persistent fetal vasculature(PFV). However, PHPV had a wider range of lesions and more complex conditions.