How is congenital cataract treated?
The main goal for treating congenital cataract is to provide a clear retinal image as soon as possible to avoid irreversible amblyopia, the most common cause of poor vision after cataract surgery in children. Amblyopia may occur whether only one eye or both eyes are involved, so visually significant congenital cataract must be visually rehabilitated as soon as possible. Treatment is urgent because bilateral congenital cataracts that obscure the visual axis will often result in sensory nystagmus and a bilateral poor visual outcome if not treated by 2 months of age. The use of intraocular lenses is the accepted method for treating aphakia (absence of a natural lens) in children that underwent cataract surgery. Because of the significant change in eye size during the first year of life, implantation of ocular lenses in infants is controversial. By 2 years of age, however, the eye is almost adult size. For the most part, intraocular lenses are becoming the standard in children older than 2
