Cataracts, so often considered a consequence of getting older, actually can afflict the very young. As many as six out of every 10,000 infants are born with cataracts in this country. These children also should visit their ophthalmologists during childhood to prevent vision loss.
Cataracts are a clouding of the eye's internal focusing lens.
An examination by a pediatrician or pediatric ophthalmologist can determine whether an infant or child has a cataract. Often parents will suspect a vision problem. A cataract not only blurs the child's visual images, but also the development of visual pathways within the nervous system. A critical stage of visual development occurs between birth and age three to four months, during which the brain must receive clear visual messages from both eyes. If a cataract blocks vision during this time, blindness can result in one or both eyes.