A STUDY OF CONGENITAL CATARACT-DIAGNOSIS,MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOMES.

Purpose: To study the causes of congenital cataract, management and the visual outcome. Methods: Retrospective study conducted in the tertiary eye care center from January 2008 to December 2015. 16 eyes of 13 children with age ranging from 1 month to 14 years were included in the study after fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All the children underwent thorough clinical examination before the surgery. Children underwent Small Incision Cataract Surgery with Intra Ocular Lens. Results:3 children had congenital cataract in both eyes. All 3 were male children. Consanguinity was present in 5 children and parents of 8 children were not related. Surgery was performed in all the children. The preoperative visual acuity ranged from perception of light to 6/24. After surgery, 50% (8 eyes) had 6/60 to 6/18 vision. The rest of the eyes had a perception of light to 5/60 vision. Conclusion: Study revealed that consanguinity was one of the aetiological factor and that their visual acuity before surgical intervention was very poor. After surgery the visual acuity improved in the range of 6/60 to 6/18 in 50% of the children. The Study was taken up in view of bringing out the importance of early surgical intervention in children with congenital cataract and give them a better future. Timely recognition and intervention can eliminate blind years due to childhood cataract as the condition is treatable.