Cataracts are a leading cause of preventable blindness, responsible for 5% to 20% of childhood blindness cases worldwide. In the United States, the prevalence of cataracts in children younger than 18 years of age ranges from 1 to 6 per 10,000. A cataract is an opacity of the lens and is considered visually significant when greater than 3 mm and centrally located. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines cataract as a cause of blindness in which sight can be restored through tertiary prevention. Provision of quality surgery within an optimal time frame is one of the WHO's targets for Vision 2020, a global initiative to eliminate preventable causes of blindness.
Cataracts may occur at any age. Approximately 50% of congenital cataracts are idiopathic; the remainder are due to congenital infections, teratogens, genetic or metabolic disease, and ocular disorders. Despite improved prenatal care and immunizations, congenital infections remain a major source...
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