Epidemiologic and etiological characteristics of congenital cataract: Study of 59 cases over 10 years

Objective - The goal of this study was to analyze the epidemiology and maternal, prenatal and perinatal risk factors for congenital cataracts. Materials and methods. - We conducted a retrospective study of all consecutive cases of congenital cataracts diagnosed and managed at hopital Nord Marseille, France. We describe demographic, personal, maternal and familial characteristics of these patients. Results. - We identified 59 children with congenital cataract. The group consists of 31 girls (53%) and 28 boys (47%). Cataract was bilateral in 71% of cases and unilateral in 29% of cases. This group is first divided according to etiological forms. Idiopathic cataract accounts for 63% of patients. Genetic and infectious cataract accounts for 34% and 3%, respectively. According to the clinical presentation, congenital cataract was an isolated finding in 51% of cases. It was associated with ocular abnormalities in 27% of cases and with systemic abnormalities in 22% of cases. The diagnosis was made upon routine screening in 41% of cases. Leucoria and strabismus led to the diagnosis in 24% and 19%, respectively. The average age of diagnosis was 19.7 months. Conclusion. - Congenital cataract is a relatively rare condition. The description of a series of 59 cases is important as well as the comparison of our results to large epidemiological data previously published. The elucidation of novel risk factors requires consideration at a national or even global scale. (C) 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.