Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 8, 2026

In Vitro Modeling of Down Syndrome Neurogenesis Using Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
06:38

In Vitro Modeling of Down Syndrome Neurogenesis Using Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: March 7, 2025

Down's syndrome and early cataract

B Haargaard1, H C Fledelius

  • 1Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, DK-2300 Copenhagen, Denmark. bgd@ssi.dk

The British Journal of Ophthalmology
|May 5, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Early cataract occurs in 1.4% of children with Down syndrome. Cataracts requiring surgery in childhood are rare, with many bilateral cases detected neonatally.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Genetics
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Down syndrome is associated with various health issues, including ocular abnormalities.
  • Early detection and management of cataracts are crucial for visual development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the incidence of early-onset cataracts in pediatric patients with Down syndrome.
  • To describe the clinical features and management of these cases.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study of Danish children (0-17 years) diagnosed with cataract between 1977-2001.
  • Analysis of medical records for 1027 cataract cases, identifying those with Down syndrome.

Main Results:

  • 2.8% (29/1027) of non-traumatic cataract cases were in children with Down syndrome.
  • The occurrence of early cataract in Down syndrome was 1.4%, with 27 cases of bilateral and 2 of unilateral cataract.
  • Half of the affected children (14/29) required cataract surgery, with early intervention in neonatal cases.

Conclusions:

  • Early cataract affects 1.4% of children with Down syndrome, with surgical intervention needed less frequently.
  • Bilateral cataracts were common, with a significant proportion diagnosed at birth and requiring early surgical management.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways01:22

Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways

At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category, whereas...
Meiosis I01:49

Meiosis I

Meiosis is a carefully orchestrated set of cell divisions, the goal of which—in humans—is to produce haploid sperm or eggs, each containing half the number of chromosomes present in somatic cells elsewhere in the body. Meiosis I is the first such division, and involves several key steps, among them: condensation of replicated chromosomes in diploid cells; the pairing of homologous chromosomes and their exchange of information; and finally, the separation of homologous chromosomes by a...
Meiosis vs. Mitosis02:57

Meiosis vs. Mitosis

Cell division is necessary for growth and reproduction in organisms. Mitosis aids cell growth and development by dividing somatic cells. In contrast, meiosis causes the division of germ cells and plays an essential role in sexual reproduction. Due to their unique functional requirements, mitosis and meiosis differ from each other in multiple aspects.
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...
Diabetic Retinopathy01:27

Diabetic Retinopathy

DefinitionDiabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes affecting the retinal blood vessels.Risk FactorsDiabetic retinopathy is present in almost all individuals with type 1 diabetes and more than 60% of those with type 2 diabetes after two decades of disease.The risk increases with poor glycemic control, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, pregnancy, and puberty.Although cataracts and glaucoma are also more frequent in people with diabetes, retinopathy remains the leading...
Genetic Lingo01:11

Genetic Lingo

Overview
Nondisjunction01:29

Nondisjunction

During meiosis, chromosomes occasionally separate improperly. This occurs due to failure of homologous chromosome separation during meiosis I or failed sister chromatid separation during meiosis II. In some species, notably plants, nondisjunction can result in an organism with an entire additional set of chromosomes, which is called polyploidy. In humans, nondisjunction can occur during male or female gametogenesis and the resulting gametes possess one too many or one too few chromosomes.