Children's Cataract: From Etiology to Management. A Narrative Review of the Literature

The cataract corresponds to the opacity of the lens of the eye. In children it can have a congenital or acquired etiology. Aim. The objective of this manuscript is to carry out an updated review of the literature about the etiology, diagnosis and management of childhood cataract. Methods. AA search was carried out in the databases PubMed, Scielo, EBSCO, ScienceDirect, with the words infantile cataract, congenital cataract, cataract and child; in English and Spanish languages; with limitation to articles published in the last ten years, without limitation of the level of the evidence. Results. Fifty one articles were chosen for present review. Conclusions. Timely diagnosis of childhood cataract is crucial to reduce the incidence and severity of ocular sequelae. Genetic diagnosis makes it possible to specify genetic counseling for the family, as well as direct management, within which eye surgery constitutes the main pillar of treatment.