Congenital Cataract

Clouding of the lens present at or soon after birth

Overview

A congenital cataract is an opacity of the lens present at birth or developing in infancy. Causes include inherited gene variants, infections during pregnancy such as rubella, metabolic disorders like galactosemia, and chromosomal conditions, though many cases have no identified cause. Because clear images are essential for visual development in early life, a significant cataract can lead to deep amblyopia if not addressed. For this reason newborn eye examinations check the red reflex, and dense cataracts are typically removed surgically in the first months of life, followed by optical correction.