Epidemiological Analysis of Congenital Cataract in a Sample of Iraqi Patients

Aim and epidemiological Cross sectional study to determine the most common causes of congenital cataract in a sample of Iraqi patients referred to the main tertiary eye center in Iraq. Setting: Ibn Al-Haithem Teaching eye Hospital /Baghdad-Iraq. Patients and Methods : A total of (57) patients (108 eyes); were included in this study. Any child with congenital cataract referred to the hospital or discovered during routine outpatient examination was included. Examination of the patients was done by operative microscope after light general anesthesia especially for uncooperative patients. Parents of the patients were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire. Serological tests for intrauterine infections done and Biochemical tests as reducing substances in urine and blood glucose were also performed. Results: (32) 56.14% males and (25) 43.85% females. (51) 89.4% bilateral and (6) 10.5% unilateral. Consanguinity of the parents found in (33)57.89% of the patient. Their ages were ranging from 25 days to 12 years. Regarding the causes, 29 (50.87%) were idiopathic, 24 (42.1%) inherited and 4 (7.01%) intrauterine infection. Only 3 patients had other systemic abnormalities and the main presenting symptom was white pupil. Corresponding author: Ali Abdul Razzaq Mahmood, Ibn ALHaithem Teaching Eye Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq, E-mail: drali20042001@yahoo.com Conclusion : Congenital cataract mainly presented in the first year of life, most cases were bilateral with leukocoria as the main presenting symptom. Most cases were idiopathic.