Abstract
Purpose
To analyze the clinical characteristics of congenital/developmental cataract undergoing surgery.
Methods
A mail questionnaire was sent to 49 facilities engaged in surgical treatment of congenital cataracts, and data on preoperative clinical features were collected.
Results
Twenty nine facilities reported on 864 eyes of 521 patients with congenital/infantile cataract, ranging in age at initial visit from 0 to 18.8 years (2.6 ± 3.3 years, mean ± standard deviation). Among the patients, 65.8 % had bilateral cataracts and 34.2 % were unilaterally affected. Family history was found for 22.4 % of cases, of which 98.1 % were bilateral. Family history was positive for 33.1 % of bilateral and 1.3 % of unilateral cases. The most common main complaint was white pupil for 35.7 % of bilateral cases and 32.7 % for unilateral cases. Concomitant systemic abnormalities were more frequently associated with bilateral cases (31.6 %) than with unilateral cases (16.7 %). Associated ocular diseases, such as strabismus, persistent fetal vasculature, and posterior lenticonus, were more frequently seen among unilateral cases whereas nystagmus was more common among bilateral cases.
Conclusions
Among congenital/developmental cataracts, the ratio of bilateral and unilateral cases was approximately 2:1. Almost all patients with a family history of congenital cataract were bilateral. Initial visits to a physician were rather late, 2.6 years from birth; this should be improved.
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Acknowledgments
Supported by the Health and Labour Sciences Research Grant, Research on Measures for Intractable Diseases, The Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare, Japan. We thank all physicians who contributed to this study by providing valuable information, those from National Center for Child Health and Development, Hyogo Prefectural Kobe Children’s Hospital, Aichi Children’s Health and Medical Center, Osaka City General Hospital, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Osaka Medical Center and Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health, Iwate Medical University, University of Tsukuba Faculty of Medicine, Dokkyo Medical University, Kagoshima University Faculty of Medicine, Kanagawa Children’s Medical Center, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Keio University School of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Kagawa University Faculty of Medicine, Kanazawa University School of Medicine, University of Fukui Faculty of Medical Science, Shiga University of Medical Science, Ehime University School of Medicine, Toho University Omori Medical Center, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Kyushu University School of Medicine, Kobe University School of Medicine, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Hokkaido Children’s Hospital and Medical Center, and Kagawa National Children’s Hospital.
Conflicts of interest
T. Nagamoto, None; T. Oshika, None; T. Fujikado, None; T. Ishibashi, None; M. Sato, None; M. Kondo, None; D. Kurosaka, None; N. Azuma, None.
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Nagamoto, T., Oshika, T., Fujikado, T. et al. Clinical characteristics of congenital and developmental cataract undergoing surgical treatment. Jpn J Ophthalmol 59, 148–156 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-015-0370-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-015-0370-8