Congenital cataracts are present at birth or develop in the first year, with various etiologies including infections, metabolic disorders, trauma, and genetic conditions. The document details different types of cataracts, their associations with systemic diseases, and the management of infants with cataracts, emphasizing the importance of visual assessment and early intervention. A thorough clinical evaluation is essential, as dense cataracts can lead to irreversible visual impairment, and careful history-taking and examination can prevent misdiagnosis and poor outcomes.

1. CONGENITAL CATARACT

2. Cataracts that are present at birth or that develop within the first year
of life are called congenital or infantile cataracts.

3. ETIOLOGY OF CATARACTS IN CHILDHOOD
Bilateral Cataracts
IDIOPATHIC
 IUIs- Rubella, Varicella, Toxoplasmosis, CMV, Syphilis
 Metabolic disorders- Galactossemia, Diabetes mellitus, Mannosidosis, Fabry’s, Wilson’s
disease
 Trauma- Accidental, laser photocoagulation, non-accidental
 Iatrogenic- Radiation induced (may also be unilateral), steroid exposure
 Inherited- Familial (hereditary): AD, X-linked, rarely AR
 Ocular anomalies- Aniridia, Anterior segment dysgenesis syndrome
 Mental retardation
INHERITED WITH SYSTEMIC ABNORMALITIES
 Chromosomal- Chromosome 21 (Down’s), 13, 18
 Craniofacial syndrome- Hallermann Streiff Francois syndrome, Rubenstein Taybi Syndrome,
Smith Lemli Opitz syndrome
 Renal disease- Lowe syndrome, Alport syndrome
 Musculoskeletal disorders- Conradi Hunermann syndrome, Albright syndrome, Myotonic
dystrophy

4. Unilateral Cataracts
 Idiopathic
 Ocular anomalies- Persistent fetal vasculature (PFV), Retinal Detachment (from any
cause)
 Trauma (rule out child abuse)

5. In general, the earlier the onset, the more amblyogenic the
cataract will be.
Lens opacities that are visually significant before 2–3 months
of age are the most likely to be detrimental to vision.

6. MORPHOLOGY

7. Morphology
○ Blue dot opacities are common and innocuous.
○ Nuclear opacities are confined to the embryonic or fetal nucleus.
○ Lamellar opacities affect a particular lamella of the lens both anteriorly and
posteriorly and may be associated with radial extensions.
Lamellar opacities may be autosomal dominant or occur in isolation as well as in
association with metabolic disorders and intrauterine infections.
○ Coronary (supranuclear) cataract lies in the deep cortex, surrounding the
nucleus like a crown. It is usually sporadic but occasionally hereditary.

8. Central ‘oil droplet’ opacities (Fig. 9.25D) are characteristic of galactosaemia.
○ Posterior polar cataract (Fig. 9.25E) may be associated with posterior
lenticonus or fetal vascular remnants including a Mittendorf dot. This form of
opacity is often closely integrated with the lens capsule and/or a pre-existing
defect, with a very high risk of dehiscence during surgery.
○ Sutural, in which the opacity follows the anterior or posterior Y suture may
be seen in female Nance–Horan carriers.
○ Anterior polar cataract may be flat or project into the AC. Occasional
associations include persistent pupillary membrane, aniridia, Peters anomaly
and anterior lenticonus.

10. Lamellar opacities affect a particular lamella of the lens both anteriorly and posteriorly and may be associated with
radial extensions (‘riders’ ). Lamellar opacities may be autosomal dominant or occur in isolation as well as in
association with metabolic disorders and intrauterine infections.

11. Supranuclear
cataract

12. SYSTEMIC METABOLIC ASSOCIATIONS

13. Fabry disease is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency of the enzyme
alpha-galactosidase A that leads to abnormal tissue accumulation of a glycolipid.
All males with the gene develop the disease, and some heterozygous females.
Systemic features include periodic burning pain in the extremities (acroparaesthesia) and GI
tract, angiokeratomas cardiomyopathy and renal disease.
Ocular manifestations
 white to golden-brown corneal opacities in a vortex pattern (75%) that may be the first feature
of the disease facilitating early intervention;
 wedge- or spoke-shaped posterior cataract (Fabry cataract)
 conjunctival vascular tortuosity (corkscrew vessels) and aneurysm formation
 retinal vascular tortuosity.
FABRY’S DISEASE

18. LOWE’S SYNDROME
 Lowe (oculocerebrorenal) syndrome is an X-linked
recessive disorder
 Gene: OCRL1
 inborn error of amino acid metabolism
 Neuromuscular and renal manifestations are seen
 Cataract is universal
 Congenital glaucoma is present in about half of
patients.

21. Galactosaemia is an autosomal recessive (AR) condition
characterized by impairment of galactose utilization caused
by absence of the enzyme galactose-1-phosphate uridyl
transferase (GPUT).
Unless galactose (milk and milk products) is withheld from
the diet, severe systemic complications culminate in early
death.
‘Oil droplet’ lens opacity develops within the first few days or
weeks of life in a large percentage of patients.
GALACTOSSEMIA

23.  Mannosidosis is an AR disorder with deficiency of α-mannosidase.
 Infantile and juvenile-adult forms are seen
 Progressive mental deterioration, musculoskeletal and other
abnormalities.
 Punctate lens opacities arranged in a spoke-like pattern in the
posterior lens cortex are frequent
MANNOSIDOSIS

24. MANAGEMENT

25. Ocular assessment
Determination in the neonate of the visual significance of lens opacity is
based principally on the appearance of the red reflex and the quality of the
fundus view.
• A very dense cataract occluding the pupil; the decision to operate is
straightforward.
• A less dense but still visually significant cataract (e.g. central or posterior
opacities over 3 mm in diameter) will permit visualization of the retinal
vasculature with the indirect but not with the direct ophthalmoscope.
• A visually insignificant opacity will allow clear visualization of the retinal
vasculature with both the indirect and direct ophthalmoscope.
• Other indicators of severe visual impairment include absence of central
fixation, nystagmus and strabismus.

26. • Preoperative evaluation
• History taking is an integral part in the evaluation of an infant with
congenital cataract.
• The history should include
1. Antenatal history of maternal drug intake and fever- with rash,
family history of congenital cataract.
2. Birth history should be specifically looked for as bilateral congenital
cataract is more common in preterm, low birthweight, small for
gestational age children.

27. 3.Developmental mile stones should be carefully assessed.
4. History of visual interaction of the child with the family members should also
be inquired as it helps in determining the severity of visual dysfunction.
5. History of the onset of the opacities, progression and laterality is also
important. Unilateral cataracts are isolated but are usually associated with
other ocular abnormalities like persistent fetal vasculature, lenticonus,
lentiglobus

29. • Clinical Examination
• Detailed ocular examination of the child can be done either in an outpatient
setting if the child is cooperative or under general anesthesia.
• In infants, fixation behavior, fixation preference and resistance to occlusion
gives us a clue to the visual acuity.
• Dense central opacities larger than 3 mm in diameter usually need surgical
removal

30. • Examination of both the eyes has to be done to determine whether the cataract
is unilateral or bilateral.
• Unilateral cataract, even if mild can cause irreversible deep amblyopia if not
treated.
• Often the first symptom is a white or partially white reflex noted by the
parents.
• Strabismus and nystagmus should be specifically looked for in these children
and sometimes these may be the presenting signs.

31. • Strabismus is usually seen in children with unilateral cataracts and develops
when an irreparable visual loss has already occurred.
• The presence of manifest nystagmus at age of 2–3 months or elder generally
indicates a very poor prognosis.
• The presence of either strabismus or nystagmus indicates that cataract is
visually significant.

32. In cases where the media opacity precludes examination of the fundus, a B
scan ultrasonography has to be performed to rule out other posterior
segment pathologies that mimic congenital cataract.
These conditions include retinoblastoma, persistent hyperplastic primary
vitreous, coats disease, ROP with retrolental fibroplasia, orgainzed vitreous
hemorrhage, congenital falciform fold, ocular toxocariasis and retinal
hamartomas.
Performing cataract surgery in these conditions is disastrous and can lead
one into medicolegal problems.

33. THANK YOU