Can you be born with cataracts ?

[Wheatland]

Is it possible for people to be born with cataracts? What makes cataracts happen? Can gene causes it?

[Wheatley]

There are four types of cataracts; they are age-related cataracts, secondary cataracts, congenital cataracts and traumatic cataracts respectively, among which the third type indicates that some babies are born with cataracts as a result of an infection, injury, or poor development when they are in their mother's belly. People develop cataracts when protein accumulating in the lens makes it cloudy, which prevents light from passing through the lens, hence leading to loss of vision to some degree. As the new lens cells form, the older cells gather in the center of the lens, as a result of which cataracts develop.

[White Butte]

Congenital cataracts are common eye diseases in children. They are related to heredity and environmental factors. About 1/3 congenital cataract was hereditary. Autosomal dominant inheritance is the most often see, while autosomal recessive inheritance is rare, which is often suffering from a close relative of the marriage. In addition to genetic, environmental factors is another important reason. The mother during the first 2 month pregnancy get an infection is a factor to be reckoned lead to cataracts, for the period of lens capsule is not yet fully developed, can not resist the virus. In short, mothers should keep the perinatal health in order to reduce the incidence of congenital cataract.