Paediatric cataract

A cataract that is already present at birth is called „Cataracta congenita” in medical terms. There are many types of congenital cataract. The degree of lens opacity can vary.

There are many different causes for a congenital cataract. Occasionally, there may be a genetic predisposition for it, i.e. an inheritance. A common example for a genetic predisposition that frequently causes congenital cataract is trisomy 21, a chromosome abnormality.

Infections, especially during the first three months of pregnancy, pose a threat.

A cataract may also frequently develop as a result of a damage of the embryo in the womb. The first three months of pregnancy are particularly important, because the lens develops during the sixth week of gestation. Lens damages may be caused by German measles, chickenpox, mumps, poliomyelitis, toxoplasmosis and x-rays.

A cataract quickly develops as well if the lens capsule is damaged through a foreign body or an injury. However, serious injuries or the intrusion of foreign bodies such as copper, iron or brass can sometimes also lead to cataract development even if the lens capsule is not damaged. A cataract that originates from an injury is unconditionally an ophthalmologic emergency and has to be treated immediately.