Because of the potential developmental problems that their presence may cause, childhood cataracts should be removed as soon as possible. The presence of cataracts prevents the development of vision in the affected eye, but if the intervention is performed early enough, the vision can be corrected. Cataracts occur in adults and are most commonly related to aging changes and some diseases; however, cataracts in children are caused by a variety of factors from genetic to infectious.
Infection During Pregnancy
When a mother develops an infection during pregnancy, the infant may develop a cataract as well as other health problems. As noted by the Childhood Cataract Network, some specific infections tend to cause this complication more often; these include German measles, chickenpox, herpes simplex, cytomegalovirus and toxoplasmosis. These types of cataracts are not inherited, and other children born to the same mother would not necessarily develop a cataract unless the mother developed another infection.
Genetic Causes
Sometimes cataracts in children are caused by genes passed down from the parents. The parents may have had cataracts during their childhood or the combination of the parents' genes may have caused the cataract to form in the child. According to the Childhood Cataract Network, cataracts may also form as a result of other genetic conditions or chromosomal problem that the child may have inherited such as Down syndrome 21 or Turner syndrome.
Metabolic Causes
Metabolic diseases can cause childhood cataracts. As noted by Drs. Kenneth Weston Wright and Peter H. Spiegel in the 2003 textbook, Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, metabolic diseases occur when a system of the body is not working properly such as in diabetes, galactosemia (a disease in which milk sugars are not digested appropriately) or Fabry's disease (a disease in which a specific enzyme does not function properly). Many infants are tested for these diseases at birth because early treatment of the specific problem may prevent cataracts and any other physical problems from developing.
Traumatic Injuries
Physical injuries to the eye of a child can cause a cataract to form, either immediately or at a later date. Cataracts can develop after a blunt injury or a penetrating injury. Sometimes after a severe trauma to the eye, the eye surgeon will only do basic repairs to the eye and not remove the cataract at that time. In cases of trauma, there may be other injuries to the eye that may impact the development of the child's vision, so after removing the cataract, the visual potential of the eye may not ever be normal.
References
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities Department of Ophthalmology: Cataracts in Children
- Review of Ophthalmology: Managing Pediatric Cataracts; Wilson ME et al; 2002
- Childhood Cataract Network: What causes childhood cataracts?
- Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus; Wright KW, Spiegel PH; 2003.
