Aim: To identify the causes of childhood cataract in south India with emphasis on factors that might be potentially preventable.
Methods: A total of 514 consecutive children with cataract attending an eye hospital outpatient clinic were examined and their parents interviewed by a trained interviewer using a standardised questionnaire in the local language. Serology was performed on children under 1 year of age to detect congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). Other investigations were performed as clinically indicated.
Results: Of the 366 children with non-traumatic cataract 25% were hereditary, 15% were due to congenital rubella syndrome, and 51% were undetermined. In children under 1 year of age 25% were due to rubella and cataract of nuclear morphology had a 75% positive predictive value for CRS. Mothers of children in the undetermined group were more likely to have taken abortifacients than a group of age matched controls (p = 0.1) but use of other medications in pregnancy was similar in both groups. Of the 148 (29%) children with traumatic cataracts three quarters were over the age of 6 years. Stick injuries were responsible for 28%, thorn injuries for 21%, and firecrackers for 5%.
Conclusion: Nearly half of non-traumatic cataract in south India is due to potentially preventable causes (CRS and autosomal dominant disease). There is need for further work to identify the factors leading to childhood cataract in at least half of the cases for which no definite cause can as yet be determined.
My eight year old daughter was terrified to go to the eye doctor for fear of her eyes being dilated. The doctor was SO KID friendly! He immediately made her comfortable by engaging her in conversation. It was a geat experience.
Dr. Garbus spent an amazing amount of time to solve my very complicated visual problems. Over the years he has continually achieved results beyond what others felt possible. He is always up to date on the latest science. He is great!
Family Vision Care Valencia makes it so easy. Staff is knows what they are doing and Dr. Garbus is thorough and kept me well informed during the exam.
I have been coming to Family Vision Center for almost 20 years. Dr. Garbus has been able to help my vision when other doctors could not. Now my kids see him as well. I highly recommend this office!
The Doctor is very good. I felt on this visit he seemed rushed. I had questions to ask him but he was already with another patient. I still do not know if my eyes are the same , worse, or better.
All the staff is friendly, helpful and knowledgeable, and has been for all the years I have been going there.
As a caring and passionate optometrists at , our eye doctors, Dr. Babakhan and Dr. Garbus frequently confront a prevalent issue that many patients present during their visits to our centrally located practice in - dry eyes. Dr. Babakhan often gets asked about the best eye drops that can bring relief to this common, yet […]
For many people, contact lenses are a convenient alternative to glasses. However, wearing contact lenses can sometimes lead to dry eye, a frustrating and uncomfortable experience. In this article, we will explore what causes dry eye when wearing contact lenses and discuss available treatment options to alleviate discomfort. Causes of Dry Eye While Wearing Contact […]
As an optometrist at Amplify EyeCare Santa Clarita in Santa Clarita, one of the most common questions Dr. Carl Garbus, FAAO often encounters is: "Are carrots good for your eyes?" To put it simply, yes, carrots are indeed beneficial for your eyes. Carrots are known to improve eyesight, and this is largely due to the […]
