Congenital cataract

Congenital cataract is clouding of one or both eye lenses present at birth or developing in early childhood. It can obstruct visual development and cause amblyopia.

Crystalline lens: The transparent, flexible structure inside the eye that focuses light onto the retina. Congenital cataract is opacity within this normally transparent structure.
Red reflex examination: A clinical test that checks the reflection of light from the back of the eye through the pupil. An absent or abnormal reflex can reveal a cataract in a newborn.
Crystallin: A family of proteins that make up much of the lens and help maintain its transparency. Changes in crystallin proteins can disrupt lens clarity from birth.
Bilateral congenital cataract: Congenital cataracts affecting both eyes. Bilateral dense opacity can impair visual development across both visual pathways.
Infantile cataract surgery timing: The clinical decision about when to remove a cataract in an infant. Earlier clearing may improve visual development, while surgery at very young ages carries added risks.
Amblyopia: Reduced vision caused by abnormal visual development, not fully corrected by glasses or contact lenses. Blurred input from a cataract can prevent the affected eye from developing normal vision.
Slit-lamp examination: An eye examination using a focused beam and microscope to inspect the eye’s structures. It helps characterize lens opacity and assess other eye findings.
CRYAA: A gene encoding alpha-A-crystallin, a lens protein that also acts as a molecular chaperone. Variants in this gene are among the inherited causes of congenital cataract.
Unilateral congenital cataract: A congenital cataract affecting one eye while the other eye remains clearer. The clearer eye can dominate vision, making amblyopia in the affected eye more likely.
Secondary glaucoma: Glaucoma that develops as a consequence of another eye condition or its treatment. It can emerge years after childhood cataract surgery and requires long-term monitoring.

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