Al Ameen Journal of Medical Sciences (Oct 2016)
Clinical Profile of Pediatric Cataract Patients Attending a Tertiary Care Centre of North Karnataka
Abstract
Background: Cataract is one of the leading causes of blindness in children. Cataract is responsible for about 10% blindness among children in India. Etiology of cataract is not well defined especially for childhood cataracts and epidemiological data for Indian population is not available in details. The present study is an attempt to get information on etiology and clinical profile of cataract in pediatric age group with an emphasis on preventable factors. Aims and objectives: To study the causes and clinical profile of Pediatric cataract among patients attending the Ophthalmology department in a tertiary care hospital of North Karnataka. Materials and Methods: A hospital based prospective study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital of North Karnataka. Total 100 children up to 15 years of age presenting with cataract from 1st June 2013 to 31st July 2016 were included in study. After obtaining detail history, all children underwent ophthalmic examination including indirect ophthalmoscopy and ultrasound B scans for posterior segment evaluation. Cataract is broadly classified into traumatic, heredity, cataract associated with ocular dysmorphology and systemic syndromes, maternal drug intake and maternal infections during pregnancy. The data collected was studied and analyzed. Results: Of the 100 children, 67 were males and 33 females, 66 were with bilateral and 34 were unilateral cataract. Trauma was found to be most common cause of pediatric cataract (36%), 29% had hereditary, 18% had ocular or systemic syndromes, 14% due to maternal drug intake during pregnancy and 3% had cataract due to maternal infection during pregnancy. Children with bilateral cataract had nystagmus at the time of presentation to hospital. Conclusion: Most common type of the pediatric cataract was traumatic cataract followed by hereditary, association of ocular and systemic syndromes, maternal drug intake and maternal infection during pregnancy to pediatric cataract were found. Most of them were preventable. Parents, school children and caregivers should be educated about the traumatic eye injuries and use of safety goggles should be promoted. Hereditary cataract can be avoided by genetic counseling and maternal infections and drug intake during pregnancy can be managed by proper antenatal care including immunization.
