Congenital Cataracts in Children : The #1 Children’s health guide on Cataracts

• What are Congenital Cataracts?

• When do Congenital Cataracts develop?

• How do you know if your child has congenital cataracts?

• Can Congenital Cataracts cause blindness?

• What Causes Congenital Cataracts ?

• Are Congenital Cataract genetic?

• Are Congenital Cataracts preventable?

• Are Congenital Cataracts curable and How are Congenital Cataracts treated?

• How can parents of children with Congenital Cataracts find support?

Congenital Cataract is a birth defect in which a baby is born with a cloudy lens, making it difficult to see.

Image by: allaboutvision.com

What are Congenital Cataracts?

You may think Cataracts only occur in adults, especially elderly, but Congenital Cataracts are a rare birth defect of the eye which occur in babies. Pediatrics Cataracts occur when a baby is born with a clouding of the eye lens. It can occur in one or both eyes termed as unilateral congenital cataracts or bilateral congenital cataracts. Cataracts vary in size, determining if they are significant enough to require treatment. According to UC San Diego Health, Cataracts are a rare condition and 3 to 4 out of 10,000 babies in the USA are born with them every year.

When do Congenital Cataracts develop?

Congenital Cataracts are present in some babies before they are born, however, they may also develop them after birth (during the first year), known as Childhood Cataracts (Kids Health).

How do you know if your child has Congenital Cataracts?

The American Academy of Ophthalmology advises parents to have their baby’s eyes checked soon after birth to check for Congenital Cataracts. A Cataract eye is different from a healthy eye because the pupil (center part of the lens) is grey or white in color instead of black. Your child’s doctor will check for any birth defects through a physical exam to make sure there isn’t anything unusual. A Pediatric Ophthalmologist is a special doctor your child will be referred to (by your Pediatrician) for advanced diagnosis and treatment. Cataracts which develop after birth can also be diagnosed through a physical exam by your child’s doctor. They can also perform blood tests and X-rays for diagnosis.

Can Congenital Cataracts cause blindness?

Yes, if Congenital Cataracts are left untreated, they may cause vision problems and even blindness. According to UC San Diego Health, there is an urgency to treat Congenital Cataracts which are present at birth because a newborn’s eye begins to ignore the Cataract eye if left untreated which may cause permanent vision loss.

What Causes Congenital Cataracts?

Congenital Cataracts may occur in children who have Down’s syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities. The mother may develop some infections during pregnancy which cause Congenital Cataracts: Rubella, Toxoplasmosis, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Chicken pox, Measles, Influenza, Herpes, HIV, or Syphilis. Cataracts which develop after a child is born may be caused by: Diabetes, eye injury, Galactosaemia or Toxocariasis.

Are Congenital Cataracts genetic?

Genetics has a role in many Congenital Cataracts and some children may have a family history. Congenital Cataracts which develop at birth or Childhood Cataracts which develop later after birth both can be due to underlying genetic causes. It is predicted 8-25% of Cataracts in children are due to genetic causes, Jama Network.

Are Congenital Cataracts Preventable?

Congenital Cataracts may not be preventable, but early diagnosis is necessary to treat them properly. A prenatal checkup is necessary for the mother to make sure she is in good health to conceive. Vaccinations are very important in preventing Congenital Cataracts since they prevent infections, which may lead to Congenital Cataracts. Pregnant women should also get STI screening to stay healthy during pregnancy. Parents can work with a genetic counselor to find out if their children have a chance of developing Congenital Cataracts (March of Dimes). Pregnant women should stay safe during physical activities like car rides, exercising, etc to prevent injury to their developing baby.

Are Congenital Cataracts curable?

Children need immediate treatment for Congenital Cataracts which are present at birth to prevent any vision loss. However, if the Cataract is insignificant or small in size, a Pediatric Ophthalmologist may just have regular followups. Your child may need Congenital Cataract surgery as a newborn if the cataract is present at birth. During Congenital Cataract surgery, the Pediatric Ophthalmologist removes the cloudy, cataract lens from the baby’s eye. Subsequent surgeries are also required in order to maintain good vision. Pediatric Opthamologists usually check for Glaucoma in children after surgery, a condition in which the eye’s optic nerve may be damaged.

After the surgery, babies need either contact Lens (temporarily placed in the eye) or intraocular Lens (permanently inserted inside the eye). The Ophthalmologist may refer contact lens to children until they are old enough to have an Intraocular lens (age one and older) inserted in their eye. Contact lens are tricky for young kids since they may rub the eye and lose them, however, they are a great option until the child is ready to have intraocular lens inserted. The Pediatric Opthamologist may want to wait until the child is an adult to recommend intraocular lens (inserted using surgery) because the eye needs time to grow and it is easier to predict an adult’s prescription. Also, intraocular lens are most likely permanent so the doctor may want to wait before inserting it.

Many children also wear glasses with the lens to improve their vision. Treatment followups are necessary and eye patching is required to strengthen the weaker eye if only one eye was operated (Unilateral Cataracts). Eye patching is usually recommended for some hours during the day. Eye patching is a great treatment because it forces the affected eye to see by covering the healthy eye. Without an eyepatch the brain would naturally use the healthy eye to see and ignore the affected eye.

Early intervention services are highly recommended for children who have Congenital Cataracts because their development is may be less than other healthy kids of their age. Early Intervention services are available and they evaluate children to make sure proper development is taking place and if not, they will offer help. All of these treatment options ensure your child is in good hands and diagnosis of Congenital Cataracts as early as possible is the key to healthy vision. (March of Dimes)

How can parents of children with Congenital Cataracts find support?

Many support groups are available for parents of children with Congenital Cataracts. Many blogs, articles and stories have been written about this topic by parents themselves to encourage, console and treat this birth defect. From eye patches and opticals to t-shirts that read “Congenital Cataract Awareness“, a lot of products and help is available. I will be linking some websites and resources here to help parents deal with their trauma, questions and find the help they need! You can buy eye patches from the links. If you have any questions and comments, please do not hesitate to reach me.

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