INFANTILE CATARACTS

Cataracts are one of the most treatable causes of visual impairment du ring infancy. Recent epidemiological studies have shown that they have a prevalence of 1.2 to 6.0 cases per 10,000 infants. The morphology o f infantile cataracts can be helpful in establishing their etiology an d prognosis. Early surgery and optical correction have resulted in an improved outcome for infants with either unilateral or bilateral catar acts. While contact lenses continue to be the standard means of optica lly correcting an infant's eyes after cataract surgery intraocular len ses are gaining in popularity as an alternative means of optically cor recting these eyes. Post-operative complications occur more commonly a fter infantile than adult cataract surgery and many of these complicat ions do not develop until years later. As a result, it is critical tha t children be followed closely on a long term basis after infantile ca taract surgery.