Clinical characteristics of congenital and developmental cataract in Kazakhstan.

PURPOSE: To study and describe clinical characteristics of congenital and developmental cataract at a tertiary eye care facility.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, 942 children (1311 eyes) presenting with congenital/developmental cataract over a 10-year study period were included. Gender, age at surgery, main presenting complaint, morphologic type of cataract, laterality, family history, and associated findings were recorded.

RESULTS

The overall proportion of boys and girls undergoing cataract surgery was approximately equal (P = 0.110). However, in the cases of bilateral cataract, the proportion of boys was larger than girls (P = 0.028). More than half (62.3%) of the patients underwent surgery at the age of >3 years. The main presenting complaint was white pupils, accounting for 48.1% of cases. Total cataract was the most common morphologic type in all age groups. In total, 133 children out of 942 (14.1%) had a positive family history of congenital/developmental cataract. Strabismus and nystagmus were seen in 27.2% and 19.3% of the eyes, respectively. Additional ocular dysmorphology was found in 97 (10.3%) of patients. Coexisting systemic disease was found in 149 (15.8%) cases. Among syndrome-associated cataracts, Down syndrome accounted for the majority of cases.

CONCLUSION

High prevalence of total cataracts as well as frequent association with strabismus and nystagmus are likely to be the consequences of delayed presentation.