Causes of Childhood Cataracts
Causes of childhood cataracts vary widely, ranging from genetic mutations to maternal infections during pregnancy. Understanding the causes helps with diagnosis, treatment planning, and counselling of affected families.
1. Congenital Causes
Many children are born with cataracts due to:
- Genetic mutations: Inherited as part of a family history or as new spontaneous mutations
- Chromosomal abnormalities: Such as Down syndrome
- Metabolic disorders: Like galactosaemia or Lowe syndrome
- Intrauterine infections: Infections such as rubella, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex, or toxoplasmosis can disrupt lens development
These are typically detected during early infancy, either through abnormal red reflex screening or parental concern about white pupils.
2. Acquired Causes | Causes of Childhood Cataracts
Some cataracts develop after birth and are known as acquired childhood cataracts. Causes include:
- Eye trauma: Injury to the eye can damage the lens and lead to clouding
- Inflammatory eye diseases: Such as uveitis
- Systemic diseases: Including diabetes or juvenile idiopathic arthritis
- Medication use: Especially long-term use of corticosteroids
- Radiation exposure: As part of cancer treatment or environmental exposure
3. Idiopathic
In many cases, no clear cause is found. These are classified as idiopathic, and though challenging to explain, the treatment approach remains the same.
4. Risk Factors
Additional risk factors that may increase the likelihood of developing childhood cataracts include:
- Family history of eye disease
- Low birth weight or premature birth
- Maternal substance use during pregnancy
5. Syndromic Association | Causes of Childhood Cataracts
Cataracts can also form part of broader genetic syndromes such as:
- Marfan syndrome
- Neurofibromatosis
- Trisomy 13 and 18
Identifying the causes supports early intervention, genetic counselling, and informed decisions about future pregnancies or family planning.
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