Congenital cataract

• Illustrations
• Alternative names
• Definition
• Causes, incidence, and risk factors
• Symptoms
• Signs and tests

• Treatment
• Expectations (prognosis)
• Complications
• Calling your health care provider
• Prevention

Alternative names    Return to top

Definition    Return to top

A congenital cataract involves clouding of the lens of the eye that is present at birth.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors    Return to top

The number of people born with cataracts is low. Possible causes of congenital cataracts include the following:

• Galactosemia
• Chondrodysplasia syndrome
• Congenital rubella syndrome
• Down syndrome (trisomy 21)
• Pierre-Robin syndrome
• Familial congenital cataracts
• Hallerman-Streiff syndrome
• Lowe syndrome
• Trisomy 13
• Conradi syndrome
• Ectodermal dysplasia syndrome
• Marinesco-Sjogren syndrome

Although many diseases and inherited disorders can lead to congenital cataracts, in most patients, no specific cause can be identified.

Symptoms    Return to top

• Opacity of the lens, often evident at birth without special viewing equipment and appearing as a whitish discoloration in an otherwise normally dark pupil
• Failure of an infant to show visual awareness of the world around him or her (if present in both eyes)
• Nystagmus (unusual rapid eye movements)

Signs and tests    Return to top

A complete eye examination by an ophthalmologist will readily diagnose congenital cataract. The search for a possible cause may require examination by a pediatrician experienced in hereditary disorders and possible blood tests or X-rays.

Treatment    Return to top

The treatment involves surgical cataract removal followed by placement of an intraocular lens (IOL). Patching to force the child to use the weaker eye may be required to prevent amblyopia.

Treatment for any underlying disorder may be needed.

Expectations (prognosis)    Return to top

Cataract surgery with placement of an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) is routine and usually has excellent results.

Complications    Return to top

Many of the underlying diseases associated with congenital cataract have extensive involvement of multiple organs and organ systems.

Calling your health care provider    Return to top

Call for an urgent appointment with your baby's health care provider if you notice that the pupil of one or both eyes appears white or cloudy.

Prevention    Return to top

If you have a family history of inheritable disorders that could cause congenital cataracts, consider seeking genetic counseling.