Congenital Cataract

What is Congenital Cataract?

The loss of transparency and opacification of the lens, seen from birth, either unilaterally or bilaterally, is called congenital cataract. The cause of the congenital disease can be due to infections the mother had during pregnancy, medications used, or it can occur without any apparent reason. One pupil being a different color (white) from the other or a deviation in the eye (strabismus) can be symptoms of congenital cataract.

The moment these symptoms are seen in babies, an eye specialist should be consulted without losing any time. If it obstructs vision, and especially if it is unilateral, it should be operated on as soon as it is diagnosed. The eye specialist decides on the timing of the surgery after a detailed examination. The most important problem in the eye with this disease is lazy eye (amblyopia). To overcome lazy eye, surgery should be performed as soon as possible in line with the ophthalmologist’s recommendation.

Causes of Congenital Cataract

An eye condition that causes vision loss as a result of the opacification of the lens from birth is called congenital cataract. This condition can occur due to various reasons such as infections the mother had during pregnancy or genetic factors.

If the disease is congenital in newborns, its symptoms can be seen in the form of the pupil being a different color (white) or a deviation in the eye (strabismus). If the baby has these symptoms, it is important to consult an eye specialist immediately. Especially in the case of a unilateral cataract, if vision is obstructed, surgery should be considered as soon as it is diagnosed.

The timing of the surgery is determined after a detailed examination by the ophthalmologist. The greatest risk in the eye with congenital cataract is lazy eye (amblyopia). To prevent and treat lazy eye, surgery must be performed as soon as possible. The treatment of this disease is provided by surgery. During surgery, the opacified lens is removed and an artificial lens is inserted. This method is effective in restoring visual function in most cases. However, the treatment process may vary depending on the characteristics of each patient. As a result, it is an important eye condition that requires early diagnosis and treatment.

How is Congenital Cataract Treatment Applied?

The treatment of the disease is performed using the ‘PHACO’ method, and if the age is appropriate, a foldable lens is placed inside the eye. The most important part in congenital cataract treatment is the phase of combating lazy eye that will be done after the surgery. Family-physician cooperation is very important in this phase. If this cooperation is not established, the early surgery will be of no use. Following congenital surgery, depending on whether a lens was inserted during the operation, the child may need to use glasses or contact lenses.