Biomaterial Database

Cataracts in children. 2005

Charlotta Zetterström, and Anna Lundvall, and Maria Kugelberg

St. Erik's Eye Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. c.zetterstrom@sankterik.se

Bilateral congenital cataract is the most common cause of treatable childhood blindness. Nuclear cataract is usually present at birth and is nonprogressive, whereas lamellar cataract usually develops later and is progressive. Surgery must be performed promptly in cases with dense congenital cataract; if nystagmus has developed, the amblyopia is irreversible. A treatment regimen based on surgery within 2 months of birth combined with prompt optical correction of the aphakia and aggressive occlusion therapy with frequent follow-up has been successful in unilateral and bilateral cases. Both anterior and posterior capsulorhexes are performed in most children. Intraocular lens implantation can be performed safely in children older than 1 year. Anterior dry vitrectomy is recommended in preschool children to avoid after-cataract. Opacification of the visual axis is the most common complication of cataract surgery in children. Secondary glaucoma is the most sight-threatening complication and is common if surgery is performed early. Life-long follow-up is essential in these cases.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007223	Infant	A child between 1 and 23 months of age.	Infants
D011183	Postoperative Complications	Pathologic processes that affect patients after a surgical procedure. They may or may not be related to the disease for which the surgery was done, and they may or may not be direct results of the surgery.	Complication, Postoperative,Complications, Postoperative,Postoperative Complication
D002386	Cataract	Partial or complete opacity on or in the lens or capsule of one or both eyes, impairing vision or causing blindness. The many kinds of cataract are classified by their morphology (size, shape, location) or etiology (cause and time of occurrence). (Dorland, 27th ed)	Cataract, Membranous,Lens Opacities,Pseudoaphakia,Cataracts,Cataracts, Membranous,Lens Opacity,Membranous Cataract,Membranous Cataracts,Opacities, Lens,Opacity, Lens,Pseudoaphakias
D002387	Cataract Extraction	The removal of a cataractous CRYSTALLINE LENS from the eye.	Enzymatic Zonulolysis,Phakectomy,Cataract Extractions,Enzymatic Zonulolyses,Extraction, Cataract,Extractions, Cataract,Phakectomies,Zonulolyses, Enzymatic,Zonulolysis, Enzymatic
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D003261	Contact Lenses	Lenses designed to be worn on the front surface of the eyeball. (UMDNS, 1999)	Lenses, Contact,Contact Lens,Lens, Contact
D005139	Eyeglasses	A pair of ophthalmic lenses in a frame or mounting which is supported by the nose and ears. The purpose is to aid or improve vision. It does not include goggles or nonprescription sun glasses for which EYE PROTECTIVE DEVICES is available.	Glasses,Spectacles,Sun Glasses, Prescription,Glasses, Prescription Sun,Prescription Sun Glasses
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000550	Amblyopia	A nonspecific term referring to impaired vision. Major subcategories include stimulus deprivation-induced amblyopia and toxic amblyopia. Stimulus deprivation-induced amblyopia is a developmental disorder of the visual cortex. A discrepancy between visual information received by the visual cortex from each eye results in abnormal cortical development. STRABISMUS and REFRACTIVE ERRORS may cause this condition. Toxic amblyopia is a disorder of the OPTIC NERVE which is associated with ALCOHOLISM, tobacco SMOKING, and other toxins and as an adverse effect of the use of some medications.	Anisometropic Amblyopia,Lazy Eye,Amblyopia, Developmental,Amblyopia, Stimulus Deprivation-Induced,Amblyopia, Suppression,Stimulus Deprivation-Induced Amblyopia,Amblyopia, Anisometropic,Amblyopia, Stimulus Deprivation Induced,Amblyopias,Amblyopias, Anisometropic,Amblyopias, Developmental,Amblyopias, Stimulus Deprivation-Induced,Amblyopias, Suppression,Anisometropic Amblyopias,Deprivation-Induced Amblyopia, Stimulus,Deprivation-Induced Amblyopias, Stimulus,Developmental Amblyopia,Developmental Amblyopias,Eye, Lazy,Eyes, Lazy,Lazy Eyes,Stimulus Deprivation Induced Amblyopia,Stimulus Deprivation-Induced Amblyopias,Suppression Amblyopia,Suppression Amblyopias
D001036	Aphakia, Postcataract	Absence of the crystalline lens resulting from cataract extraction.	Aphakic Eye, Postcataract,Aphakias, Postcataract,Postcataract Aphakia,Postcataract Aphakias,Postcataract Aphakic Eye,Postcataract Aphakic Eyes