Epidemiology of pediatric cataracts – A 5 year retrospective study

Abstract

To determine the epidemiology, diagnosis and management of pediatric cataracts and to identify preventable factors and improve the visual prognosis in these patients. 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. 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. 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.