Classification of cataracts in children

Category	Location	Comment
Anterior polar	Anterior poles; usually bilateral	Often hereditary
Persistent fetal vasculature	Posterior; unilateral	Associated with microphthalmia and glaucoma
Posterior polar	Unilateral posterior pole (Mittendorf dot)
Posterior polar	Bilateral posterior pole	May be associated with defects in the posterior capsule
Posterior lentiglobus/lenticonus	Posterior capsule; mainly unilateral	Usually sporadic
Posterior subcapsular	Immediately anterior to posterior capsule	Associated with inflammatory conditions, glucocorticoids use, ionizing radiation
Total (diffuse, complete)	Involve entire crystalline lens	Usually seen after trauma
Zonular cataracts
Lamellar	Layer of cortex peripheral to the Y sutures of the lens; usually bilateral	May be hereditary (autosomal dominant) or acquired
Nuclear	Embryonal or fetal nucleus; unilateral or blateral	Microphthalmia and microcornia are usually present
Sutural	Y sutures

Graphic 81218 Version 2.0