New treatmnent methods and earlier diagnosis should improve this. Any disruption of the normal structure of the lens can result in clouding. If the cataract is small there may be only slight blurring of vision with near normal visual development. Without adequate stimulation central vision can be permanently impaired. Some peripheral vision usually remains and the eye does not usually lost the ability distinguish light and dark.
Congenital cataracts can affect one eye only or both eyes.
In bilateral cases the catarat may be denser in one eye than the other. If the image is less blurred in one eye as compared to the other, this eye will develop vision preferentially, with additional suppression of visual development in the other eye. Treatment Removal of the cataract via surgical extraction of the lens is the most effective means of treatment for most cataracts. Intraocular lenses are becoming more commonly used in young children. Because a clear visual axis is essential for early visual development, a diagnosis within the first few weeks of life is important.