PURPOSE: To evaluate after-cataract formation in children having cataract surgery with or without dry anterior vitrectomy and possible differences according to age. SETTING: St. Erik's Eye Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. METHODS: This retrospective study comprised 85 eyes of 85 patients from 0 to 15 years old who had cataract surgery with or without anterior vitrectomy after the implantation of an intraocular lens (IOL). All patients had primary posterior capsulorhexis but no optic capture. Thirty-five patients received a heparin-surface-modified poly(methyl methacrylate) IOL (809C, Pharmacia & Upjohn) and 50 patients, a foldable acrylic IOL (AcrySof(R), Alcon). The records from follow-up visits at the patients' home clinics were used for analysis. RESULTS: Significantly fewer children were operated on for after-cataract if they had cataract surgery with anterior vitrectomy (P .05). CONCLUSION: In children younger than 7 years with an AcrySof IOL, the rate of after-cataract surgery was significantly less in those who had an anterior vitrectomy at the time of cataract surgery (P