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PURPOSE To assess the impact on visual development of multifocal versus monofocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) implantation in children following congenital cataract surgery. DESIGN Retrospective interventional consecutive case series. METHODS We reviewed the records of 56 eyes of 43 pediatric patients who underwent congenital cataract surgery with phacoaspiration and simultaneous implantation of IOL under one year of age. Corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), refractive error and ocular motility disorders were evaluated after a follow-up greater than 4 years. RESULTS We implanted 32 multifocal (18unilateral, Group A and 14bilateral, Group B) and 24monofocal IOLs (12unilateral, Group C and 12bilateral, Group D). Mean follow-up was 6.67 years. Mean CDVA of the eyes with multifocal IOL was 0.75±0.46 logMAR in unilateral cataract surgery and 0.34±0.25logMAR in bilateral ones; with monofocal IOLs was 0.71±0.52logMAR in unilateral and 0.53±0.43logMAR in bilateral ones. No statistically significant difference in CDVA between Groups A and B and Groups C and D has been recorded. Final mean spherical equivalent was -3.88±4.73D; in Group A it was -2.74±4.22D, in Group C was -1.08±1.45D, in Group B was -4.82±4.64D and in Group D was -6.81 ± 4.61D.The difference was statistically significant between Group B and D (p=0.01), but not between Group A and C (p=0.14).Twenty-six patients (60.4%) showed post-operative strabismus. Its surgical correction occurred more in patients with multifocal IOL implanted (p=0.038). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the use of multifocal IOLs did not show significant advantages in visual development in children following congenital cataract extraction under one year of age if compared with monofocal IOLs.