Congenital cataract

Find a health topic using the A-Z index:

| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Definition

A congenital cataract is clouding of the lens of the eye that is present at birth. The lens of the eye is normally a clear structure, which focuses light received by the eye onto the retina.

Alternative Names

Cataract - congenital

Causes

The number of people born with cataracts is low. In most patients, no specific cause can be found. 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

Symptoms

Cloudiness of the lens, often obvious 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 cataracts present in both eyes)
Nystagmus (unusual rapid eye movements)

Exams and Tests

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

In some cases, congenital cataracts are mild and not visually significant, and these cases require no treatment. Moderate to severe cataracts that affect vision will require surgical cataract removal, followed by placement of an artificial 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 also be needed.

Outlook (Prognosis)

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

Possible Complications

Many of the underlying diseases associated with congenital cataract involve many organs to a great degree.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

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

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

Email to a Friend

Typical mistypes for Congenital cataract
xongenital cataract, vongenital cataract, fongenital cataract, dongenital cataract, cingenital cataract, ckngenital cataract, clngenital cataract, cpngenital cataract, c0ngenital cataract, c9ngenital cataract, cobgenital cataract, comgenital cataract, cojgenital cataract, cohgenital cataract, confenital cataract, convenital cataract, conbenital cataract, conhenital cataract, conyenital cataract, contenital cataract, congwnital cataract, congsnital cataract, congdnital cataract, congrnital cataract, cong4nital cataract, cong3nital cataract, congebital cataract, congemital cataract, congejital cataract, congehital cataract, congenutal cataract, congenjtal cataract, congenktal cataract, congenotal cataract, congen9tal cataract, congen8tal cataract, congeniral cataract, congenifal cataract, congenigal cataract, congeniyal cataract, congeni6al cataract, congeni5al cataract, congenitzl cataract, congenitsl cataract, congenitwl cataract, congenitql cataract, congenitak cataract, congenitap cataract, congenitao cataract, congenital xataract, congenital vataract, congenital fataract, congenital dataract, congenital cztaract, congenital cstaract, congenital cwtaract, congenital cqtaract, congenital cararact, congenital cafaract, congenital cagaract, congenital cayaract, congenital ca6aract, congenital ca5aract, congenital catzract, congenital catsract, congenital catwract, congenital catqract, congenital cataeact, congenital catadact, congenital catafact, congenital catatact, congenital cata5act, congenital cata4act, congenital catarzct, congenital catarsct, congenital catarwct, congenital catarqct, congenital cataraxt, congenital cataravt, congenital cataraft, congenital cataradt, congenital cataracr, congenital cataracf, congenital cataracg, congenital cataracy, congenital catarac6, congenital catarac5, ongenital cataract, cngenital cataract, cogenital cataract, conenital cataract, congnital cataract, congeital cataract, congental cataract, congenial cataract, congenitl cataract, congenita cataract, congenitalcataract, congenital ataract, congenital ctaract, congenital caaract, congenital catract, congenital cataact, congenital catarct, congenital catarat, congenital catarac, ocngenital cataract, cnogenital cataract, cognenital cataract, conegnital cataract, congneital cataract, congeintal cataract, congential cataract, congeniatl cataract, congenitla cataract, congenita lcataract, congenitalc ataract, congenital actaract, congenital ctaaract, congenital caatract, congenital catraact, congenital cataarct, congenital catarcat, congenital cataratc, ccongenital cataract, coongenital cataract, conngenital cataract, conggenital cataract, congeenital cataract, congennital cataract, congeniital cataract, congenittal cataract, congenitaal cataract, congenitall cataract, congenital cataract, congenital ccataract, congenital caataract, congenital cattaract, congenital cataaract, congenital catarract, congenital cataraact, congenital cataracct, congenital cataractt, etc.