Abstract :
Purpose: To determine the epidemiology, diagnosis and management of pediatric cataracts and to identify
preventable factors and improve the visual prognosis in these patients.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted after reviewing the details of 87 patients
of pediatric cataract aged between 3 months and 15 years who underwent cataract surgery in our institute
from January 2014 to December 2018. A team of ophthalmologists and pediatricians attached to the center
examined all the patients preoperatively. The type of cataract was determined using slit lamp biomicroscopy
or operating microscope.
Results: Congenital cataracts were 71.26% and acquired cataracts were 27.9%. Congenital cataract
includes idiopathic (77.41%), hereditary (12.90%), associated with syndromes (8.06%) and rubella
(1.61%). In congenital cataract group, 41 patients had bilateral cataract and 21 had unilateral cataract.
In acquired cataract group, 23 had unilateral and 2 had bilateral cataract. Traumatic cataract was most
common in boys in the age group of 11-15 years and most common cause of trauma was wooden stick
injury (45%). All patients underwent surgery and were left either aphakic (planned for secondary IOL
implantation) or pseudophakic and had post operative visual rehabilitation.
Conclusion: Early diagnosis and treatment of pediatric cataracts in a high percentage of cases is the key for
good visual outcome. Given the high proportion of idiopathic pediatric cataracts, prevention of the disease
remains a challenge worldwide.
Keyword :
Acquired, Congenital, Idiopathic, Pediatric cataract, Trauma.