One of the major complaints of cortical cataracts is ghosting or a doubling of images. Glare is also a major factor with this type of cataract. This type of cataract is located at the posterior pole of the crystalline lens overlying the visual axis. Because of its position, it can have profound impact, especially when reading or in bright lighting situations when the pupil is small. PSC cataracts tend to occur more in young individuals especially if exposed to systemic medications like oral steroids.
Pediatric cataracts can also occur in children at the time of birth or shortly after.
The diagnosis of childhood cataracts often begins with the discovery of a white reflex from one of the pupils. This is termed leukocoria and must be differentiated from other eye diseases of childhood which present with this same sign. It is important to realize that a cataract is not a tumor or a growth nor is it a film which can be peeled away from the front of the eye. When a decision is made to undergo cataract extraction, the surgery is not a laser procedure but an incision based operation. Approximately 1.5 million cataract extractions are performed in the United States each year and over 95 percent of people who undergo the procedure have a successful outcome.