Can a 21 year old get cataracts?

When you think about cataracts, chances are the first thing that comes to mind is an elderly person. While cataracts most commonly affect people over the age of 60, it is not so uncommon for people to develop cataracts in their 40s, 30s and even 20s.

What is congenital cataracts in adults?

A congenital cataract causes the same symptoms as adult cataracts—a clouding in the lens of the eye that can cause blurry vision or blindness. Located behind the iris of the eye, the lens is normally clear and allows incoming light to clearly focus an image on the retina.

What is the most common cause of congenital cataract?

Congenital Cataracts: Causes Congenital cataracts also can occur when, during pregnancy, the mother develops infections such as measles or rubella (the most common cause), rubeola, chicken pox, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex, herpes zoster, poliomyelitis, influenza, Epstein-Barr virus, syphilis and toxoplasmosis.

How rare is a congenital cataract?

Congenital cataract are one of the most common treatable causes of visual impairment and blindness during infancy, with an estimated prevalence of 1 to 6 cases per 10,000 live births.

Can congenital cataracts be cured in adults?

Cataracts are a leading cause of decreased vision in older adults, but children may have congenital cataracts. With surgery, the cataract can be removed, a new lens implanted, and the person can usually return home the same day.

When do congenital cataracts develop?

Some babies are born with cataracts and some develop them in the first six months of their lives. When a baby is born with a cataract it is called a “congenital cataract”. If a cataract develops in the first six months of life it is known as an “infantile cataract”.

How is congenital cataract treated?

How Are Congenital Cataracts Treated? Ophthalmologists do surgery to remove congenital cataracts. This usually happens soon after the diagnosis, as early as 6–8 weeks of age. During the procedure, the ophthalmologist removes the cloudy part of the lens and may put in a flexible plastic artificial lens.

Can congenital cataracts be removed in adults?

Why is congenital cataracts urgent?

Congenital cataract constitutes an emergency. The brain learns to see with the macula (the center of the retina where 20/20 vision is possible) most rapidly during the first 3 to 4 months of life. If vision is severely limited during this critical period of visual development, it cannot be restored completely.

Should congenital cataracts be removed?

If congenital cataracts are mild and do not affect vision, they may not need to be treated, especially if they are in both eyes. Moderate to severe cataracts that affect vision, or a cataract that is in only 1 eye, will need to be treated with cataract removal surgery.

When does congenital cataract need surgery?

Although cataract surgery in children should be done as early as possible, if there is real doubt about whether children will benefit, they are unlikely to come to serious harm by waiting a little longer. As they grow older, it becomes easier to test their vision, and to determine if they need an operation.

What are the symptoms of congenital cataracts?

A congenital cataract causes the same symptoms as adult cataracts —a clouding in the lens of the eye that can cause blurry vision or blindness. Located behind the iris of the eye, the lens is normally clear and allows incoming light to clearly focus an image on the retina.

Can a child be born with cataracts?

However, babies and children can be born with cataracts, or they may develop them as they age. A congenital cataract causes the same symptoms as adult cataracts—a clouding in the lens of the eye that can cause blurry vision or blindness.

What is the best age to remove a congenital cataract?

Some experts say the optimal time to intervene and remove a visually significant congenital cataract from an infant’s eye is between the ages of 6 weeks and 3 months. If your baby has a congenital cataract, discuss any concerns you have about timing of cataract surgery with your eye surgeon.

What is the incidence of congenital cataracts in the world?

Disease Entity. A cataract is any light scattering opacity of the lens. It is estimated that congenital cataracts are responsible for 5\% to 20\% of blindness in children worldwide. Incidence varies from country to country.