AIM: To investigate the therapeutic effect of 23G vitrectomy system used in children with congenital cataracts.

METHODS: From November 2017 to December 2018, 11 children(19 eyes)aged 3-8 years old with congenital cataract were recruited in the Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University. 23G vitrectomy instruments were used to enter the anterior chamber through the incision at the corneal limbus, and complete ring resection of anterior capsule, cataract aspiration, intraocular lens implantation, and ring resection of posterior capsule combined with anterior vitrectomy. The visual acuity, intraocular pressure and ocular conditions of the children were observed during 3-24mo of follow-up.

RESULTS: All the surgeries were uneventful. During the surgeries, the anterior chambers were stable, the ring resections of lens capsules were accurate, and the IOLs were implanted at the 1^st phase. The postoperative visual acuity was significantly improved compared with that before surgery. Only 1 patient had intraocular pressure higher than 25mmHg after surgery, which was controlled within the normal range after medication was given. During the follow-up period, all the children had clear corneas, no anterior chamber hemorrhage, no pupil deformation, the intraocular lens was in the center and the right position, the optic axis was transparent, and no obvious complications occurred.

CONCLUSION: The 23G vitrectomy system is safe and effective for the surgery of congenital cataract, it can achieve little trauma, accurate lens capsule resection, little postoperative reaction and few complications.