Childhood Cataract: A World-Wide Perspective

Abstract

Childhood blindness affects over one and one half million children in the world, one million of them in Asia alone. Cataract is the cause of the blindness in up to one quarter of these children. Programs designed to improve their vision must be community based, tied to primary healthcare programs which can locate those who are blind. Once identified, referral to centers which can provide preoperative assessment and proven surgical procedures is the next step. Adequate followup including treatment of amblyopia and provision of optical correction is essential for the overall success of the program.

Preliminary data from Mexico on 61 eyes with childhood cataract demonstrates the lack of follow up as well as the potential for restoring sight. Proposals for improving the situation of childhood cataract in developing countries are presented.

• childhood blindness
• congenital cataract
• infantile cataract
• developing countries