Cataracts No Longer Restricted to Age :Experts

New Delhi: While cataracts are usually known to cause vision loss among older adults, medical experts suggest that the affliction is no longer restricted to any particular age group and can even occur at birth.

A cataract is the clouding of the clear lens of the eye, which lies behind the iris and the pupil. This happens because normal proteins of the lens start losing transparency.

Most cataracts develop slowly and do not disturb eyesight in the beginning but with time a cataract usually interferes with vision and if untreated could possibly result in blindness.

According to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, an estimated 200,000 children are bilaterally blind from cataracts, and many more suffer from partial cataracts that progress and cause increasing visual difficulty as the child grows.

Congenital cataract refers to opacity of the lens detected at birth or at an early stage of childhood. It is also the primary cause of treatable childhood blindness worldwide.

“Congenital cataracts are responsible for nearly 10 per cent of all vision loss in children world-wide. Congenital cataract are one of the most common treatable causes of visual impairment and blindness during infancy, with an estimated prevalence of one to six cases per 10,000 live births,” Shetty added.

While a cataract is less likely to see in younger age group but when it occurs, the reason can be due to trauma, which is an injury, or due to any inflammatory eye condition that a person might have, or as a side-effect of any medication such as steroids. Systemic diseases such as diabetes can also cause cataracts.

“Problems during pregnancy such as infection can also cause cataract in babies. If the baby has any medical problem then also cataract can occur. Childhood trauma or reaction to certain medications can also be a catalyst for cataracts,” Uma Mallaiah, Senior Consultant,