Cataracts are usually caused by changes in the lens of the eye. In fact, a cataract makes the lens of the eye cloudy, causing blurred or fuzzy vision.
The lens of the eye is actually a clear structure located just behind the pupil (the black circle in the center of the eye). The lens allows light to pass through to reach the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye (the retina).
Cataracts are usually more common in older adults (age-related cataracts). However, sometimes babies are born with cataracts or children develop cataracts in their teens. This type of cataract is called juvenile cataracts.
Childhood cataracts are usually caused by:
Congenital cataracts – usually present at birth or shortly after birth.
Developmental cataracts – in childhood or adolescence – where cataracts are diagnosed some time after the baby is born or during childhood.
Cataracts are rare in babies or children. In the UK, between three and four in every 10,000 children are affected.
Symptoms of cataracts in children
In children, cataracts can occur in one or both eyes. The dark spots in the lenses can sometimes grow larger and spread further, severely affecting a child's vision.
As well as reducing vision, cataracts can cause 'flickering eyes' and strabismus (a misalignment where the two eyes look in different directions).
It is difficult to prevent the development of cataracts when your baby is very young. But your baby's eyes should be checked routinely within 72 hours of birth and then again at 6 to 8 weeks of age. Sometimes cataracts can develop in children at an older age after these screening exams.
It is very important that cataracts in children are diagnosed quickly, because timely treatment can prevent serious vision damage in adulthood. So if you are concerned about your child's vision, be sure to see a doctor and make sure about the health of his eyes.
What causes cataracts in children?
There are many reasons why a baby is born with cataracts or develops cataracts in his eyes in the early years of childhood. But in many cases it is not possible to determine exactly what causes cataracts in children.
Possible causes include:
A genetic defect inherited from parents to the baby that causes the lens of the eye to develop abnormally.
Certain genetic conditions, such as Down syndrome
Certain infections that the mother had during pregnancy, such as rubella or chickenpox.
How are cataracts treated in children?
Cataracts in children are usually not very dangerous and have little or no effect on vision.
However, if cataracts affect your child's vision, they can prevent or delay the normal development of vision. In such cases, doctors recommend that you have eye surgery to remove the cataractous lens as soon as possible.
Replacing the focusing power of the lens is as important as the surgery and removal of the lens. Sometimes the lens affected by the cataract may be replaced with an artificial lens during surgery. However, the most common treatment for pediatric cataract surgery is to prescribe contact lenses or glasses to replace the removed lens.
It is difficult to predict exactly how much a baby's vision will improve after treatment, but the eye affected by cataracts will usually always have some degree of lower than normal vision. However, many children with cataracts are able to live full, almost normal lives.
What are the risks?
Cases of cataracts that affect vision and are not treated promptly can sometimes cause irreversible damage to vision, including permanent amblyopia and, in severe cases, complete blindness.
Cataract surgery is usually successful and does not have any serious consequences. The most common complication of cataract surgery is a condition that can affect the artificial lens implant, called posterior capsule opacification (PCO). This can cause blurred vision to return.
Another serious risk of cataract surgery is glaucoma, which causes pressure to build up inside the eye. If not treated successfully, glaucoma can cause irreversible damage to the underlying tissues of the eye.
Although some of the possible complications listed above may occur after surgery for your child's vision, they are often correctable and treatable with medication or subsequent surgery.
Can cataracts be prevented in children?
It is not usually possible to prevent cataracts, especially those that are congenital and inherited from parents.
However, if you follow the advice of your doctor and midwife and avoid any infections during pregnancy (which can be done by getting all the necessary vaccinations before pregnancy), the chance of having a baby with cataracts will be reduced.
If you have a child with cataracts and are planning to get pregnant again, it is important to consult a specialist doctor and a genetic counselor. Genetic counselors can tell parents which hereditary diseases are likely to be passed on to their baby.
Information about your child
If your child has cataracts, the clinical team will send their information and medical history to the National Congenital Rare and Unusual Diseases Registry Service (NCARDRS).
This helps scientists find better ways to prevent and treat such diseases. You can register your child's clinical information at this center whenever you wish.