A congenital cataract is clouding of the lens of the eye, that is present at birth. The lens of the eye is normally a clear structure, which focuses light received by the eye onto the retina.

Cataract - congenital

The number of people born with cataracts is low. In most patients, no specific cause can be found. Possible causes of congenital cataracts include the following:

• Chondrodysplasia syndrome
• Congenital rubella
• Conradi syndrome
• Down syndrome (trisomy 21)
• Ectodermal dysplasia syndrome
• Familial congenital cataracts
• Galactosemia
• Hallerman-Streiff syndrome
• Lowe syndrome
• Marinesco-Sjogren syndrome
• Pierre-Robin syndrome
• Trisomy 13

Images

Rubella Syndrome

Eye

Cataract - close-up of the eye

Next Section

Congenital cataract Symptoms

Review Date: 08/06/2009
Reviewed By: Paul B. Griggs, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)