DefinitionA congenital cataract is clouding of the lens of the eye, that is present at birth. The lens of the eye is normally a clear structure, which focuses light received by the eye onto the retina.Alternative NamesCataract - congenitalCauses, incidence, and risk factorsThe number of people born with cataracts is low. In most patients, no specific cause can be found. Possible causes of congenital cataracts include the following:Chondrodysplasia syndromeCongenital rubellaConradi syndromeDown syndrome (trisomy 21)Ectodermal dysplasia syndromeFamilial congenital cataractsGalactosemiaHallerman-Streiff syndromeLowe syndromeMarinesco-Sjogren syndromePierre-Robin syndromeTrisomy 13SymptomsCloudiness of the lens that looks like a white spot in an otherwise normally dark pupil -- often obvious a