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Congenital cataract - Overview

Alternative Names

Cataract - congenital

Definition of Congenital cataract:

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.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

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:

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

Eye

Cataract - close-up of the eye

Rubella Syndrome

Cataract

Reviewed last on: 8/22/2008
Paul B. Griggs, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Guercio JR, Martyn LJ. Congenital malformations of the eye and orbit. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2007 Feb;40(1):113-40, vii.

Olitsky SE, Hug D, and Smith LP. Abnormalities of the lens. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2007; chap 627.

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